Large family meal--what do I cook?

[abraid]

I have 11 for supper next week--and I will have had a tough week.

What can I cook that I could freeze in advance? Not lasagne (did that last time). Not pork (because some of the group are staying the previous night and will have had it already).
Lamb and apricot stew (as mentioned here elsewhere)?

MANY THANKS to anyone who can help!

Boeuf bourguignon always goes down well in this house. Or a huge curry with dal and rice and flat breads (Madhur Jaffrey great for ideas)? Do you really have to cook it in advance or could it be something that you can just bang in the oven and forget about for a while on the day?

chili?

pizza?

home made soup?

I was just about to suggest the same 2 ideas as Horton

Curry or chilli - can cook in advance; easy to do a veggie version too. can pad out with rice and/or bread or baked potatoes plus salad.

Oh thank you all--that was very quick!

It doesn't have to be frozen ahead of time but as I am in a bit of a panic about next week, which is horrific on all fronts, I thought it might calm my nerves to know I'd got one in the bag, as it were.

you could go buy a home made type quiche from somewhere like cook and have with salad and potatoes?

Goulash is delicious, and can be made ahead of schedule and frozen.

Or I'd second the curry idea.

Thank you all. I feel reassured that there are plenty of options.

I was going to suggest a leg of lamb (or two), marinated in yoghurt and spices and then slow-cooked, if it doesn't have to be done in advance. V low-maintenance and delicious.

Horton your ideas are exactly the sort of thing we make when family gets together, infact making a couple of legs of lamb just how you've described on Saturday!

That lamb in yoghurt is one of my favourite things. Even curry-haters and spice-haters seem to love it.

We have 5 arriving on friday so I have set out our menu for the week for 10

friday sheperds pie, I am working so dh will make it
saturday going out
sunday lemon roast chicken
monday lasagne i am working again so something quick
tuesday chicken roule
wednesday Roast pork
thursday lamb hotpot

all very plain as my in laws dont do chilli or garlic

Or, how about belly pork, marinated in soy, star anise, ginger and honey and slow-roasted with a little time under the grill at the end for lovely crackling? You could serve it very simply with a big dish of rice and pak choi or cabbage and it's dead easy and delicious.

I should never answer food questions. I am literally making myself drool.

You are all fantastic! Thank you very, very much.

What about a big pot of coq au vin, prepared the night before, and cooked all night and day on a low heat? Chicken will be literally falling off the bone. Just serve with green beans and french bread.

Oh, another idea - spatchcocked chickens with a lot of lemon squeezed over and garlic squished in between. They only take about an hour and you can cook at least four at once depending on the size of your oven as they are so flat. You could make and freeze mash in advance, pref with carrots or parsnips or celeriac in it and heat in the microwave. Add fresh parsley at the end on the chickens and serve with lemony cooking juices from the chicken and loads of green veg and salad.

Why is there not a drool emoticon? I am hungry.

More great ideas! Thanks.

wow, are your in-laws real carnivores? all your meals have chicken or meat as the main? how abot a big pot of veggie soup-tomato or orange soup (carrot and sweet potato) followed by a veggie and cheese quiche and salad? make a change from heavy meaty meals and very easy to make in advance

It is quite normal to eat meat, surely? Particularly for what sounds like a celebration/happy family gathering kind of meal. We eat plenty of vegetarian stuff but not usually for 'special' meals. Meat's just nicer.

ahem, i did mention soup or quiche you know

Mmmmm I want to go round to Horton's house for tea...

slow roasted shoulder of pork - just put in a hot oven for 20 mins then in a low oven for 24 hours (yes 24) and it will be the most tender pork you have ever tasted. Serve with frozen roast potatoes, apple sauce (frozen if you like) and stuffing.

Can I come?

The funny thing is that I eventually chose a lamb dish. And bought the meat yesterday to cook and freeze today. Then realised that as it's a Friday during Lent, my daughter and I won't be able to eat it because we're Catholics. . Doh!

Nice one. But at least there are lots of vegetables in the recipe so we can eat them with rice. (Or indeed with quiche...!)