Eight other school mum friends coming over for lunch next Tuesday - what shall I cook?

[hmc]

We meet for lunch at each others houses perhaps once per month and rotate around us. I wouldn't normally be stressing but next Tuesday (may slot) coincides with the birthday of one of them - so I feel the need to make it more 'special'.

However I don't want to spend ages faffing around and preparing (other competing priorities for my time). I want something simple but appropriate for a more celebratory lunch than usual.

Normally I would just do a home made soup or something but I guess that wouldn't cut it?

Sigh - what to do, what to do!

there are loads of recipes on MN - this one sounds yummy

just get a cake for the special birthday factor...

have fun!

I'd do soup and rolls, then a nice squishy cake for pudding for the birthday bit

That tortilla bake recipe looks pretty darn easy, I must say

Roast chicken (do two large ones) and baked potatoes and a salad?

And then make a nice large chocolate cake and stick some birthday candles on it!

I'm with the soup. It's what I do.
Or homemade quiche, lasagne salad etc. Don't know about other's I can't eat too much at lunch anyway.

I make muffins sized cupcakes and decorate them, put them in a pile and put candles on them. looks good!

When I have a few people for lunch I do a kind of tapas. So lots of olives, serrano/parma ham, houmous, salad, crusty bread etc. It means people can have as much or little as they like and all tastes are catered for.

I usually do mini pavlovas as they are sooooo easy but look impressive.

Do a soup to start with,just small portions, then a big cheeseboard with bread, crackers, pickles, olives, meats etc. Always nice when you have a large but sort of informal group.

I'm guessing as you will have kids wine is a no no?

Suggest sticking to the home-made soup you would normally do - with bread, rolls, whatever - and making/buying something you can put candles on....sponge cake, brownies, chocolate crispie cake....anything will do as a birthday cake! Your friend will be hugely touched by the effort, and you won't have gone over your usual budget. When everyone takes it in turn to host, it's important not to go OTT - less stress for everyone if the rule is to prepare something relatively cheap like soup and bread, and something yummy to have with coffee.

I am loving the idea of individual cakes - be it brownies or cup cakes, with candles. Will definitely do that.

Thanks everyone