What can I make now to prepare for in-laws visit in 2 weeks

[Anonymous]

I need 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 desserts and some cookies/bars. Looking for some new ideas that I can make and freeze

I've made in the past:
- lasagna (both red and white)
- chili
- pulled pork bbq
- corn soup
- stromboli


They're not picky, but not super adventorous either (above list is typical). Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

-Meatballs, for sure.
-Quiche
-Pancakes

Do you really need more than 1-2 desserts? I'd make a pie and brownies.

[Anonymous]

Make some muffins or muffin/bread loaves, like banana bread or zucchini bread. Chocolate chip cookies actually freeze well too.

[Anonymous]

OP, are these going to be 3 sit-down and serve meals, or can you leave them things like sandwich fixings for lunch?

[Anonymous]

The three dinners are sit down, the lunches and breakfasts are set out. Two of the desserts are for dinner (they're a family that expects dessert after dinner), and one is to put out after lunch - definate sweet tooths

can i make quiche ahead of time? Woudl be a great way to incorporate all the summer veggies

love the meatballs - in the crockpot for lunch/sandwhiches with salad!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

13:18 here.

I'll let another poster chime in on this for sure, but I would think you can bake a quiche and then put it in the freezer to reheat later. Or, I'm sure it would even be fine in the refrigerator for a few days after being cooked.

As for setting out lunch, can you make a salad that will last for 2-3 lunches, then put that out with make-your-own sandwich fixings? I was thinking a green salad, but if they prefer a macaroni or potato salad, that would work too and would definitely last a few days.

Point is, I don't think you should stress over having to have something new for each breakfast or lunch. If it's just the two of them, 1 quiche might last for all 3 breakfasts. If it's the whole family, make two quiches but maybe use different fillings. Same salad can be eaten for all three lunches. Meatballs can be eaten for 2 lunches. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Just thought of another option -- beef stew. You can make the stew ahead of time, serve it for dinner one night, then repurpose the leftovers into beef pot pie. DH uses a very simple/easy beef stew recipe from allrecipes.com that we repurpose into pot pies. Yum.

[Anonymous]

Make and freeze some biscuits for one breakfast. Bake them and set out w/ scrambled eggs and bacon.

Crepes also freeze well and are easy. Make batter in the blender and cook one evening. Great with a fruit salad or sliced bananas or berries. Put out honey or syrup and yogurt.

[Anonymous]

How about cupcakes? You freeze the cakes and frosting separately. Muffins or coffee cake freeze well. Will they go for Enchiladas? They freeze and defrost well.

I like "The Best Make Ahead Recipe" from the America's Test Kitchen. Its great - you could probably get it from the library.

[Anonymous]

This is great! Here's what I'm taking away (keep the ideas coming I'm going to cook and freeze this weekend. They're not much of a 'set it out and serve yourself' kind of people - they like their meals assembled and laid out for them (they also like their days planned and laid out for them too - which is why their visits are never easy!!)


Breakfast
- homemade biscuits (to serve with sausage, scrambeled eggs and fruit salad)
- coffee cake

Lunch
- meatballs in the crockpot to serve as sandwhichs with a green salad
- quiche to serve with green salad

Dinner
- enchladas
-
-


Dessert
- cupcakes (let the kids decorate that night)
- crepes (to serve with homemade blueberry filling from the blueberries the kids picked, huge winner!!)

[Anonymous]

Two weeks. Whew that's a long visit. Hopefully they are kind to the cook and treat you all for a meal at least once a week. Anything less is inconsiderate in my book.

That said how about pulled chicken with barbeque sauce for one of the lunches?

[Anonymous]

FYI you can make buttermilk biscuits ahead of time and freeze. Just get to the point that you are "placing the cut out biscuits on the sheet" and stick the sheet in the freezer instead. Place biscuits on a silpat liner so they don't freeze to the sheet. Dump in a freezer bag, then pull out and bake off as needed. Since you said homemade...

For dinner one night can you do a roast chicken, and then have chicken salad the next day for lunch?