Easy cook celebratory meal

[Tootyfilou]

Hi any ideas for a fairly easy cook celebratory meal? I am quite a good cook, but do not want to spend hours slaving in the kitchen. it will be a meal for 8 adults, including 3 vegetarians. Really grateful for any suggestions as I am completely out of ideas!

This is a good one. Can be used as a main or a side. One Mumsnetter has made this and came back to the thread and said how good it was. I was so chuffed. It comes from Heather and Zune Bamfield in the Eighties,

Parboil chunks of pumpkin. Make your favourite Italian tomato sauce (or use a jar).

Slice the pumpkin. Layer like lasagna with the tomato. Crumble Greek feta (just a bit) through the layers for a salt hit. Could also use bacon or chorizo on another occasion.

Top with cheese and breadcrumbs, into oven until golden.

Very easy, very filling, very forgiving, can make ahead, colourful on the table.

Go all vegetarian @Tootyfilou bbcgoodfood is always a great resource

Truffled macaroni cheese with side salad and garlic bread

My go to vegetarian meals for friends are usually a risotto (be sure to use vegetarian parmesan), Mushroom stroganoff with wild rice and some green veg or mushroom bourguignon with creamy mash.
Pasta alla Norma with a nice salad and some bread. Or a selection of curries but that usually takes a while to make a variety.

If you want to serve both meat and veg and don't want to spend too long on the day you could make some pies in advance, maybe a cauliflower cheese pie and a chicken and leek or something.

Not sure if any of these will be "special" enough for a celebration though.