Everyone's suggestions are great. Perhaps also a few readymade salads from Waitrose or M&S, served in nice bowls, which will be a good starter and also an alternative for people who find lamb or pork a bit heavy. Salads with chick peas, chicken, etc. are filling and tasty and can be a meal in themselves for lighter eaters.

I usually do a cheese board after, in case anyone didn't get enough or didn't like the food.

The main thing is to be relaxed, and not rushing about, as your guests will feel uncomfortable if you seem harassed. Just laugh off any disasters. Focus on how grateful you are to have such nice friends, who are happy to give you their time and their company.

Thanks all!
Alias - I've PMed you, thanks so much

I've got stacks of tried and tested, delicious recipes that are easy to make ahead, ready to just put in the oven. Private message me, if you'd like to and I'll email them over - with tips.

Very best of luck to you.

I love cooking too but the reality is I never really have time to do much and it is better to catch up with friends properly rather than worry about the food. Antipasti (m&s have good selection) is a super simple starter/snack to have with drinks or baked camembert (make sure you have the one in a box) with crackers always a winner. Main course - slow cooked shoulder of lamb or pork (BBC Good food or Nigella recipes work) as there is no way you can over cook. Serve with dauphinoise potatoes (that actually taste better if you make and cook the day before and then reheat), green beans and tomato salad. Best dinner party pudding I did recently was chocolate fondue (I did white and dark choc), everyone loved it! So easy, just need some fruit (pineapple and strawberries partic good), marshmallows and soft ameretti or good shop bought vanilla sponge all chopped up and let people help themselves. Have fun and hope your friends enjoy it!

Let me know if you need a hand.
I do Dinner parties or could help you prep and cook.
www.angellawilliams.co.uk

Thanks so much for your replies, Great advice and, yes, I think I am overthinking it!

Going to bite the bullet and invite some friends over for a casual lunch and see how it goes.

Any recipe ideas very gratefully received!

I think it's nice to do some kind of 'starter' nibbles or an antipasti platter while people are arriving and having a drink. But not obligatory!

I wouldn't worry about a starter. A main course and pudding is usually fine for most people

Food Editor Jo, nice to hear that you cool the Persian dish with walnuts and pomegranate - fesenjan is exquisite! You can also use duck or pheasant.

I agree, one pots are the way forward for cooking for a lot of people.

Cooking should never be about impressing or showing off or trying to outdo others... I find that amazing that some people would feel that way. Having said that I always like to go to an effort and also love cooking! But keeping things simple is key...

One dish that always, always goes down well is one that I learnt in France on a cookery course - a kind of salmon terrine that you make ahead - and yes, you can buy lots of great products these days from delis etc.

Oh. Yes, I know how you feel. I have been there. Definitely DON'T cook anything you never did before. I did a roast lamb once -which everyone told me was easy - and followed cooking instructions, only to find it was still frozen on the inside when I served it.

Best solution: just buy starter and desert from the shop. Everyone loves sticky toffee pudding with ice cream, and even I can put that in the oven. As a starter I do a salmon thingy or pate thingy, pop it out of the plastic casing, onto a leave of lettuce, with pate a dollop of cranberry sauce next to it, and looks brilliant. With salmon I do another type of salmon thingy next to it. Main dish is of course harder. Go for e.g. roast potatoes, steamed vegetables (roast vegetables I find much harder to get right) and then a piece of meat. That is the hardest bit, but I find there is very little that can go wrong with a gammon joint (ham) from the oven. But choose something you have done before, ideally from the ready-made section.

Definitely don't fall for any 'keeping up with the Jones' stuff. Do your own thing. I always thought I had to follow what others do and have totally given up now, and people love it when they come over here. We no longer do dinner parties. I serve a cold buffet (all ready made from the super market), or a Sunday brunch with pancakes and orange juice champagne mix (ideal when you have young kids and all are up early anyway), or invite people for a BBQ (it's a bit stereotypical but I find that in that case it's mostly the men cooking, and I am great at salads). Overall I have found in my circle that it really helps if you don't try and outdo the previous person you visited, as everyone is usually relieved, as it means they can do a bit less too!

I agree - get as much done ahead as possible... I write about food for a living so absolutely love cooking for people but even so, you want to enjoy their company and not be fretting at the stove or missing out on all the fun conversations. I did a very traditional supper last night for 3 couples who are all quite plain eaters: roast chicken with all the trimmings and apple crumble, but I bought some mozzarella, salami, mortadella and olives from Nife is Life (they deliver same day and the quality is excellent) and served this on a wooden board with some pane carasau as a starter with drinks.

I very often do a one-pot dish such as Persian chicken with walnuts and pomegranates or guinea fowl with pineau de Charentes and creme fraiche, or a daube or something. And desserts such as pavlovas and New York baked cheesecakes can be made in advance. Dishes needing little attention is the way forward!

I agree with the others - as long as the food is edible no one cares. I think we all get too uptight about it - we went to a dinner party recently where they ordered an Indian take away and it was absolutely fine. Just do something that you’ve done before and know you can cook well. Or outsource - there’s a local Mum who runs a company called Your Undercover Cook who will cook any or all of the courses for you! Just provide some decent wine and sparkling conversation and everyone will have a great time.

People come for the company - so far and away the best thing to do is cheat!

Try http://www.cookfood.net/shops/Clapham - I've never actually used them as I actually enjoy cooking, but I've heard very good things about them and you could pop in for a chat with them.

I think the key is to prepare as much as possible in advance, so you aren't locked away in the kitchen all night.

I always try and make the starter and pud in advance - something like a terrine for a starter, and chocolate torte for pudding. Both can be made the day before...

And for a main course, something like a beef wellington or salt-baked whole fish which take care of themselves once they are on the oven, leaving you free to chat to your guests, with simple sides of steamed greens etc (Dauphenoise potatoes always go down well as well!)

I think the majority of people want excellent company and conversation more than they expect restaurant-quality food though, so it's better to do something simple so you can stay calm and have fun, than to stress over an overly-complicated menu and not enjoy your evening.

Good luck!