Out of town dinner guests, what to prepare?

[Anonymous]

DH's college roommate, wife and preschooler will be coming by for dinner tomorrow night. DH and I both work FT, won't be home until 5:20, they are arriving at 6. What do you recommend that is quick to prepare and won't require a lot of attention once they arrive? It's too hot for stews and many casserole type dishes that I could just throw in the oven/stovetop when I got home and would otherwise be my go-to. Grilling is ok, but inevitably takes a lot of attention, and we just want to be able to relax, socialize and serve dinner around 6:30. No food restrictions.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We'd bring home our favorite take out. Then everyone can relax.

[Anonymous]

I'd prep something tonight that can be warmed up successfully tomorrow. Or go crockpot.

What about a simple pasta and salad? Prep all the ingredients and sauce tonight and just throw it together tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

This is what I've done in the past:

Tonight, make your favorite rice dish (whether plain rice, brown rice, wild rice, rice pilaf, etc). That can be reheated in the microwave. Get chicken and cut into medallions, Get shrimp. Store ready to use chicken and shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge until tomorrow. Get lemons and fresh basil. Tomorrow, chop basil (or make a chiffonade), zest a little bit of the lemon and cut the lemon in half, take a skillet, melt butter, brown chicken and shrimp (and the butter), toss in fresh basil just until the basil becomes aromatic, toss in lemon zest, squeeze lemon over the meats and serve. You can reheat the rice in the microwave while the meats are browning. Serve with your favorite veggie side whether something that can be done quickly (like microwave steamed veggies) or perhaps a cold salad that can be made tonight and left prepared in the fridge to serve cold (I often make a cucumber and tomato salad for something like this). It really takes less than 15 minutes to put all this together.

I've done this for when guests are arriving from the airport and I'm not sure when they'll arrive.

[Anonymous]

I've posted this receipe before. Get some pork or beef the kind you roast. Season it with two packets of onion soup, add chopped onions and some garlic to the put. Add one cup of water along with 3/4 cups red wine and 3 table spoons worchestire sauce. Clock in crockpot for 4 hours. We've with mashed potatoes.

[Anonymous]

Maybe make some chicken Parmesan tonight and then when you come home you just have to put it in the oven. Serve with a side salad, fresh bread, and pasta.

[Anonymous]

OP it sounds like a grill is physically available, yes?
How about grilled pizza/flatbreads?
Just prep the night before:
some kind of base (can be pita, tortillas, flatbreads, etc)
some kind of sauce or two (we love pesto)
some toppings (chopped/thinly sliced tomatoes, veg, meat, herbs, etc
some cheeses
a salad or fruit salad to go with

When you get home, light the grill and change your clothes. Then when everyone arrives THEY can help prepare their own pizza with toppings (thus sidestepping the "little Johnny doesn't LIKE xyz"). It makes for a fun activity, you aren't stuck doing tons of prep, everyone's happy.
And using the grill means far, far less cleanup afterwards. Meaning, more wine

[Anonymous]

forgot to mention, toddler is highly likely to enjoy basic cheese flatbread, thus mom and dad can relax and enjoy their own meal and your company, without hungry-child-meltdowns.

[Anonymous]

Taco night? Get ready to go meat from trader joes or else buy bulgogi from a cheap Korean place and call it takorean night