Seven adults and four toddlers for lunch tomorrow - what to cook?

[alittleteapot]

We were going to do a roast but have now decided it will reduce anxiety levels if we can make something today instead and not have much to do in the morning.
Any ideas for a really nice family meal to suit all? There's one veggie in the mix so it has to be something that factors that in (i.e. not spag bol where as with a roast she'd have been happy with the trimmings...)

In that situation I would do baked potatoes and put out a selection of cold meats, quiche, salads etc and let people help themselves to what they want/can have.

That's a good idea - though poss a bit summery? tho could serve quiche warm i guess. yes, thanks, feel a bit more inspired...

You could do a veg curry and a chicken curry, chili or other meaty filling for potatoes that would make it a bit more wintery?

veggie chilli/cheese to go with the potatoes?
Or a big vat of dhal & rice, with popadoms/naan?
Or a hearty soup (minestrone?)

Depends on the toddlers, but mine would eat all of those (but they are unprincipled hogs

Casserole with baked spuds and roasted veg. You could cook the casserole very slowly (have you got a slow cooker?) today and reheat in the morning.

Casserole sounds nice - cos it is nice to feel like you've made something lovely, rather than just been down the shops. minestrone soup also delicious, but poss a bit messy with that many under threes...

Could do a sausage casserole - Nigel Slater does a fab one.

or, going back to the roast idea, is there any reason why we couldn't prep everything tonight (chop veg, herb up chicken etc) - then it's pretty easy tomorrow.
(I do like a sunday roast...)

Mm yes, nothing like a roast - I hardly ever do one but always do when we have visitors, like tomorrow.

Roast new potatoes in their skins - no peeling - everyone always raves about mine