Need ideas for Saturday: 7 adults, 3 children - what to cook to eat after the rugby? Plus a veggie option for me

[Hulababy]

We have friends coming on Saturday. I think the plan is for us to watch the rugby and then have a nice evening with food and drink, whilst the children play.

There will be 7 meat eating adults, plus 3 children (aged nearly 2 to 6).

I need something I can prep beforehand and can cook in quantity easily. Also I need to be able to do a fish or veggie option for myself too.

Trying to avoid chilli as I always do this; ditto pasta bolognaise.

Any ideas?

What about home made pizzas? Yo could prepare before hand and do a few different ones to include kids and veggies?

Not sure they'd fit in the oven.

I still haven't got round to having the top oven fixed so only have the one - normal sized with two sleves.

England fan? You'll need lots of comfort food I reckon

Pizza sounds perfect.

canelloni. Dead easy.
Stuff them. Cover in white or cheese sauce. keep in fridge and bunk in over for 45 mn before meal.

You can do 2 versions to accomodate all tastes:

1. fish stuffing ( that is same as for fish pie).
   Add a dash of lemon juice to white sauce.

2. stir fried mushrooms and chopped spinach and onion
   Make a cheese sauce for this one.

Serve with giant platter of raw or steamed veggies and various dips

Make serious pudding to end the day with a big smile.

That's all we have hulababy, use the two shelves and put one on bottom of oven and rotate them.

DH is our resident pizza chef and he does this, puts first three out with a nice salad, then does another 3. And so on!

I suspect I will simply buy the dessert. I lovel cooking, but not so keen on baking.

Really nice burgers with little bowls of sauces and fries etc.

Buy Barilla canelloni. No need to precook. Just stuff hard shells and cook.
Make white sauce and cheese sauce a runny for extra moisture to cook the pasta shells.

1 pack makes 4 adult servings.

Hmmm - the Jamie Oliver recipe for burgers has gone down well in teh past, so it is a thought. Although was going to do burgers and wedges for tea tonight too.

you want stuff you can do in advance and just heat up as it looks like the game is coming to an end.

lasagna (but a bit of a faff to prepare and assemble)

big chicken casserole with rice (ultimate comfort food for me and as easy as pie)

big lamb stew with carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and garlic bread and green salad on the side (ditto re easy)

or you could do a fish pie and then everyone can have it including you

or a huge cottage/shepherd's pie is always popular with everyone - crucial to have peas and ketchup with it - you could do yourself a mini fish pie and use the same batch of mashed potato on the top

burgers you'll have to do at the last minute and they spit and smoke a bit, and burgers for 10 is quite a lot.

I think it is a bit of a faff actually, you won't want to be doing burgers at that stage I don't think.

If you want REALLY easy, do a load of chicken drumsticks drizzled in a bit of olive oil and a fair amount of maple syrup. Then have baked potatoes, grated cheese/hummous/3 bean salad/whatever else you like on hte potatoes, green salad, maybe some couscous. More of a supper than a dinner but kids will like it and you can have everything except the chicken

I'll stop posting now shall I

baked potatoes, gammon (can cook on friday night), cheese + a mixture of salads

I recently cooked beouf bourginoun [sp] and potatoes dauphinois - both hearty, can be prepared before hand in a large quantity, slow cooked and brought to the table in the pots with a robust salad. I got the receipies from DeliaOnLine.

I've got a yummy Baked Mushrooms and Goats cheese for you. Again its quite hearty and really tasty. Could also be a starter. Again, all can be prepared way before hand and bunged in the over for the last half an hour of the casserole. Its on Mumsnet Receipes and is so simple.

Sorry for the rubbish spelling, grammer and typing.

i WOULD go wiyh the shepherds pie, peas and a smaller fish pie. Chocolatey pudding to follow. easy peeasy yummy comfort food.

You know I was thinking of something like cottage pie whilst I was in the shower a few minutes ago.

Have done burgers for that many before and was okay. Also done sausage and mash for lots before too, but more hassle.

I will probably serve the chldren's food up a bit before ours if I can. the smallest child won't want to wait as late for her dinner as the rest of us.

Dh is a pain - he doesn't like chicken legs - loves the breast of chicken though.

Won't be sat at the table to eat as we won't all fit round. Children will eat at table, rest of us off our laps I am afraid. So has to be easy to eat.

Will no doubt have been drinking by the time we eat

DD would love the lamb casserole

Hulababy - I've put a recipe for lentil lasagne on the recipe board today - this goes down well with both carnivores and veggies! You can make the sauce well in advoance and just make the cheese sauce near the end - you could always make one and pad out with jacket potatoes + salad?

Thanks all; will scan recipe section too.

You know I have over 50 cook books here but just need inspiration today. Been ill all weekend wth horrid D&V bug. Really not in the mood for food thoughts, but need to get online shop sorted!

cottage pie has my vote

everybody loves cottage pie, and it is easy to eat from a plate in your lap. and more importantly, a doddle to make.

hula if the kids are eating earlier then instead of doing one massive one how about doing one for the adults and a smaller one for the kids? then you can heat up the children's one a little earlier, but it is no more hassle to make. I do that quite a lot.... I always do a big one for a lunch and a smaller one for the freezer for a kids tea at some point in the future...

Grrr - all this thinking and Dh has simple said that he fancies mousaka, as we haven't had it for ages. Typical eh?