Ideas for Portable Dinner for 8

[smeerf]

We're driving 4.5 hours to the in laws on Friday. I've offered to bring dinner for everyone to take some pressure off MIL (who isn't in great health and is hosting for a week).

I'd like to be able to prep it the night before, transport it in the car with ice and then just whack it in the oven when we get there. Ideally it wouldn't be vegetarian as we'll be eating veggie most days from Sunday onwards (as veggie SIL is arriving then).

I was thinking of a pie but I'd probably have to transport the lid separately so it doesn't go soggy... Any ideas?

Casserole
Beef stew and dumplings
Tagine
Curry
Chilli
Hot Pot
etc

Any like that will transport well - especially if you have a heavy-lidded pot (and taste better the next day)

I agree that beef casserole type of meal would work well, perhaps Hungarian goulash? Or if you wanted something more celebratory, venison with prunes?
You could also take ready mashed potatoes to microwave or oven heat, and a pack or two of fresh tagliatelle which cooks in moments, to cover all tastes.

If you wanted a pie could you buy some ready rolled puff pastry closer to your destination? Then you just need to unwrap, lay the lid on the pie filling and stick in the oven.

Also, to transport and save phaffing with ice and cool boxes, you can freeze overnight and take frozen in the car. By the time you get there it’ll have defrosted.

I'd do a beef goulash with carrots, shallots, red peppers and lots of smoky paprika and some sour cream to add at the end.

Or a venison casserole with juniper, bay and orange zest, bacon lardons and chestnut mushrooms.

Chilli or Lasagna or Casserole

Then on the way, pick up a couple of big fresh french baguettes or tiger loaf and some real butter for sopping up the juice

This would work perfectly. It even serves 8 www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/748650/onepot-chicken-and-bacon-stew

I'm doing this on Christmas Eve.

www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/braised-beef-cheek-pickled-walnuts