Cook ahead meal for 6

[Katrinawaves]

I have invited a couple of colleagues who are in my city for work on 20 November for dinner with the family. I will be working in the office all day and unlikely to get home until around 6.30 that day and to travel back from the office with them.

I had planned to make something on Sunday like a lasagne or cottage pie and pop it in the oven on the night but my eldest son has just asked whether he and his girlfriend can take over my kitchen for the whole of Sunday to make Thanksgiving dinner (she is American). So I am now looking for easy ideas which I can throw together late on Sunday evening or before I go to work on Monday.

There are no real dietary restrictions except that one of my guests doesn’t drink alcohol so I wouldn’t want anything cooked in or with wine. And I would like the vibe to be more family meal than formal dinner.

Ideally looking to serve a main and a pud. Please let me have some ideas!

Could you make a lasagne or cottage pie before Sunday and put it in the freezer? Then ask one of your family to take care of putting it in the oven for you?

I'd be tempted to rearrange after the Sunday kitchen takeover, but maybe it's only me who has incredibly messy teen chefs in their home!

This pasta bake is lovely and quick to pull together. I usually make the pesto and fry up the chorizo in advance. Make the pasta on the night, add cheese and put under the grill.

https://www.mob.co.uk/recipes/pesto-pasta-bake

For pudding I think I would just buy something in given the circumstances. If you really want to make something, my quick pudding is Eton mess. Outside of berry season you could either use frozen fruit or (my favourite) do a banoffee version with sliced bananas and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

What about something based on roasted vegetables - you could just simply chop and roast them on Sunday, then use that as a base for dinner on Monday. Perhaps on pasta? Or served with hummus, flat breads and maybe some baked chicken (prepare the chicken and leave in the fridge to marinate on Monday morning then just put in a tray and in the oven on arrival home?)

To that end, a chicken tray bake, with a mix of chicken and vegetables, can be prepped in the morning and left in the fridge. Then while it's cooking, just get some rice boiling. Very little effort while your guests are there but still a nice "proper" family meal.