HELP! Cooking for 11 for a week!

[iwanttobepombear]

We have a family of 6 coming to stay with us for a week in July. Does any one have any meal suggestions which are economical, easy, freezable and likely to appeal to kids and adults? I need inspiration!

I'd make up a heap of spaghetti bolognaise sauce so you can either whip up some lasagne or serve just as pasta. I would also make up some cheese sauce - which I think you can freeze- then you can do some macaroni with bacon leeks etc. I would do a chicken casserole too, I do one with leeks and lemon and tarragon which is delicious.

I would also do a lot of bbqs. Sausages served with salad or hot dogs. Burgers etc. Things like that are fairly easy to do on the day. And do some roast chickens and serve with salad. And maybe a mezze style cold supper. You can make the kids one up with cheddar, ham, tomatoes etc.

Thanks cheddar good ideas. I think I am panicking slightly at the moment!

also think that the other family won't expect or (even want) you to do everything.

Baked potatoes a few times, with different fillings. Make your own pizza bases and toppings, kids love helping with the toppings. Plenty of picnic lunches. You can make sausage rolls in advance for these and freeze them.

Check, if kids are coming, if there are any fussy ones.

Hopefully the other family will take you out for some nice restaurant meals every few evenings? This is what we do when we stay with BIL and SIL for a week each year, who live abroad.

Thanks for your replies.

It's going to be a kind of working holiday so they will be pretty busy, so I don't expect any help from them, or restaurant meals! But we will get a takeaway one night and a mutual friend is going to have them over for a meal one night.

I am panicking less now that i have realised that I may be able to put together 5 or 6 edible meals without spending my entire life in the kitchen!

Soup's always good, a nice thick filling one with baked spuds. And maybe a rich stew - both tend to benefit from being made in advance.

oooh cheddar - please can i have your recipe for the chicken casserole??

yes please cheddar, it sound lovely!