Need "prepare ahead" meal ideas for MIL dinner

[Anonymous]

My in laws are coming into town around the same time I'll be getting home from the airport picking up my dh which will also be dinner time. I need to get stuff ready so when we all walk in the house I can get the dinner going.

I was thinking of making broccoli/califlower salad, prepare double baked potatoes, some meat and cook it while they are getting settled. My mind is shut - I cannot think of anything else to make - last couple times they came down I made lasagna and stuffed shells (not at the same visit).

[Anonymous]

Do you have access to a BBQ? Perhaps burgers or dogs or steaks?

[Anonymous]

Lasagna is my go-to make ahead. Slow cooker is great, easy to do BBQ chicken or meat and gravy type things. Pot roast in the slow cooker is always good, and in my family, a rarity so impressive all around. Shepherd's pie; Rachel Ray has a fancy one.

[Anonymous]

Buy a couple of bags of salad and a couple of colorful veggies like a red or yellow pepper, button mushrooms, carrots. Slice mushrooms, dice pepper, grate carrot the day before or early the same day. Buy nice big baking potatoes or sweet potatoes -- at least one for each person. Buy some kind of protein -- boneless chicken breasts, steak, etc. I suggest boneless chicken breasts since you can bake them in oven if weather is poor and you don't feel like grilling. If you are an all weather griller, then get a nice steak. The night before take your thawed protein and marinate it in something -- marinade of choice. Put it in protein in marinade and stick it in the fridge.

Upon arriving home, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Fire up your grill if you are grilling. When the oven is heated -- throw in your potatoes -- they should cook for an hour (and your chicken if you are baking). If you are grilling, go out and grill up your protein. When you are done grilling, bring grilled protein in and let it rest. Take out your bags of salad, open and throw in a bowl, toss with your prepared veggies. Put everything on the table and dig in. Add condiments that you like, beverages, and maybe some rolls.

[Anonymous]

I would try some kind of beef stew in a crock pot, served over noodles, with biscuits or bread, and some kind of steamed green veg.

You can precook the noodles and just heat them up when you get back. Steaming the green veg takes no time at all.

[Anonymous]

How about spaghetti or pizza, salad and bread?

[Anonymous]

Are you comfortable cooking fish? Baked salmon slathered with olive oil with fresh orange juice on top is easy and delicious. You could make a salad. For your starch, you could make rice the evening before and reheat it, put in some fresh cilantro or parsley to liven it up.

[Anonymous]

Second the crockpot idea.
My family loves this recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-and-Dumplings/Detail.aspx
I don't use the canned soups, because of the MSG, but instead I use the 32 oz. Pre-made broths sold in the soup aisle (Wolfgang Pucks is great). Use enough to generously cover the chicken, but add about 2 rounded TBS of cornstarch, and poultry seasoning. Follow as directed. You can add more broth if needed.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thanks for the great ideas. I still have not decided what to make (but will probably go w/ chicken or steak).

Thanks for the salmon idea. We love salmon, but have not made it w/ orange juice yet.

And I have added the slow cooker chicken & dumplings into my recipe box. I love allrecipes.com. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hi there OP. Re: the salmon juice, make sure it's fresh. I swear, it's divine!

[Anonymous]

These are delicious - you can prepare them ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. They only take 3-4 minutes on each side under the broiler.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Savory-Mint-Lamb-Chops-236283