inspiration needed for easy Christmassy lunch and NYE dinner

[PoppyCup]

I'm all menu'd out. I have menus fixed for elderly relatives and other family visits as they all love trad food. But I have a friend coming for Sunday lunch next week. She's an ex-veggie so don't think red meat is a good idea. I want something Christmassy but easy as we want to go for a muddy frosty walk and then come back for late lunch.

Also having people over for NYE dinner and one of them is the best cook I know. Was thinking maybe venison casserole, or maybe salmon en croute.

Would love some ideas/recipes for an easy lunch and a fancier NYE.

Thank you!

Walk and late lunch - mushroom and stilton tart/quiche with a wintry salad with a mustardy dressing and nice bread?
Or soup and bread/cheese then a hot pudding such as crumble?

Thank you. I like the idea of warm quiche and wintery salad.

Doing soup, cheese platter and warm pudding for elderly rellies I think, but could rethink that.

Some sort of traybake so just shove in oven when you get home.

most of my lunches over Xmas will be soup/cheese + hot pudding!

Soup, cheese and hot pudding or sausages, par-baked baguettes and clementines for vitamins here.

For NYE - venison tagine https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/venison-and-parsnip-tagine-with-buttered-herb-couscous/

My recipe I posted a few days ago (which the OP tried and liked! I was so chuffed).

Parboil chunks of pumpkin. Slice.
Make your favourite Italian tomato sauce using bits of bacon or Greek feta for a salt hit.

Layer in a dish like lasagne. Breadcrumbs and cheese on top and into the oven until bubbling and brown. Very filling and very forgiving. Make ahead, freeze, whatever.

That sounds gorgeous, thank you for sharing

Coq au vin or beef bourgignon or venison casserole of steak pie for NYE. Either way make it in advance and cook long and slow, it always tastes better that way.