I need feast inspiration

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

It's the annual family Christmas party next weekend and I need food inspiration. I need to feed 12 adults and 4 kids this year and I need some suggestions to get me started please. It's got to be festive and, sadly, dairy free for at least the centerpiece. Can't be a traditional roast or Boxing Day ham. In previous years I've made Moroccan b'stilla, porchetta, paella and boeuf bourginon so am aiming for a similar 'I made an effort' vibe but have run out of party pieces.

Any ideas please?

Massive lasagne

That's what DP says. It's the white sauce and cheese that's the issue though. I'm trying to cater for SIL who has a breastfed baby with cow's milk protein allergy and want her to have the same food as everyone else if possible.

Give her the mince with some spaghetti or similar?

Whole salmon/salmon en croute/salmon baked under a seasalt crust

Coq au vin

Moussaka...you can make the bechamel with plant milk

Mexican feast
Chilli- can do a pulled meat version
Veg chilli
Tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Salsa
Sour cream as well as DF alternative, same for cheese
Potato wedges
Etc
Etc

Ooh or a curry

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/collection/best-ever-easy-mexican-recipes/amp/

Coq au Riesling

Keep 'em coming - these are all great suggestions and starting ideas rolling.

Or the dishoom chicken ruby

I love the chicken ruby - we have that quite often though. That Dishoom cookbook is magnificent.

It’s got cream in it anyway, I thought that after I typed it. I adore that book!

You will thank me later

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12197-momofukus-bo-ssam

I would be tempted to go for a beef wellington or possibly a steak pie accompanied by traditional sides. Or my mum sometimes does individual toad in the hole with 2 chipolata pigs in blankets and a stuffing ball which always goes down well.

Or what something a little more adventurous like a morrocan leg of lamb with couscous etc or Jamie's empire roast chicken with Bombay potatoes.

BBC good food chicken arrabbiata stew with parmesan dumplings is also always a guaranteed winner.

Slow cooked roast lamb with Moroccan spice, flat bread and houmous, couscous sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, roast peppers, courgette, red onion and chickpeas. Something in filo, maybe feta fingers with mint. Or a minted yoghurt dip.

[quote gelatodipistacchio]You will thank me later

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12197-momofukus-bo-ssam[/quote]
This looks perfect! Thank you.

@KateLumley

Slow cooked roast lamb with Moroccan spice, flat bread and houmous, couscous sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, roast peppers, courgette, red onion and chickpeas. Something in filo, maybe feta fingers with mint. Or a minted yoghurt dip.

This sounds like my perfect dinner, but have been told I do Moroccan too often! Can never be too often for me, but hey...

Cassoulet, with sausage and duck, serve a green salad on the side.

Venison casserole with red wine, mushrooms etc. Serve with Boulangere potatoes, same method as potatoes dauphinois but uses stock instead of cream.

I love cassoulet! Another great shout.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden in that case you could make the lamb kleftiko and make it Greek instead. The flavours would still work.

[quote KateLumley]@ElizabethinherGermanGarden in that case you could make the lamb kleftiko and make it Greek instead. The flavours would still work.[/quote]
Another great idea. Love the username btw.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden
Glad you liked the cassoulet idea. Have you read Felicity Cloake's "One more croissant for the road"? She's a cassoulet fan too!

[quote AdaColeman]@ElizabethinherGermanGarden
Glad you liked the cassoulet idea. Have you read Felicity Cloake's "One more croissant for the road"? She's a cassoulet fan too![/quote]
No, but that sounds like one for me! I've been reading Diana Henry recently but am ready for a new cookbook (as long as it has pictures)

Just wanted to say how thoughtful you are OP to be doing that for your SIL . I also had CMPA baby so missing out on what others were having for meals was really hard.

@Starheart

Just wanted to say how thoughtful you are OP to be doing that for your SIL . I also had CMPA baby so missing out on what others were having for meals was really hard.

That's so kind of you to say.