Sorry for spelling it out--just re-read your OP and you know all this. Your menu sounds spot-on.
For any newbies in a similar situation, hope the details help.

One more for roast chicken.
Or, if they're garlic-friendly, google "Chicken Marbella." It's done in the oven with olives and prunes and is incredible. It's a Silver Palate cookbook recipe, but you can find it online.

For potatoes, is there a potato dish you know you do well? If you're really good at mashed, do those. If you're not sure, roast the potatoes too. (Cut them into 3/4" chunks, toss in olive oil, spread out on a baking sheet, sprinkle with rosemary, and into a 375 oven. They'll probably go about 45 minutes but don't go by time, go by watching and tasting. Make sure they're browning and getting a little crunchy. Salt them immediately when they come out.

For a vegetable, how about green beans? Get a large bowl or sink full of ice water ready. Clean the beans and snap the ends, then boil or steam them for just about 3 minutes, until they just start to get tender, then immediately plunge them into the ice water to stop the cooking so they don't get mushy. You can do this ahead. Just before serving, heat up a skillet, swirl some olive oil in it, then sauté your green beans a few minutes. Spritz them with lemon juice and salt, and, if you like, sliced almonds.

All of the above is gluten-free.

I think your menu sounds great, but if you don't want to mess around with carving the roast chicken, this is a delicious and easy recipe that might also fit the bill:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/zesty-braised-chicken-with-lemon-and-capers

Sounds awesome to me.

Chicken, salmon are great ideas, and a side of potatoes. Your menu sounds fine.

These are gluten free:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-in-Riesling-241725

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Seafood-Sausage-and-Bell-Pepper-Paella-2027

For the paella, you can omit any seafood you want (or all of it) and you can find GF and chicken sausages, e.g., http://www.aidells.com/allergen


For dessert:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ginger-Baked-Apples-12772

Go with the chicken. Costco does really excellent roasted chickens.

The key to impressing people who have everything is not doing something expensive. It's doing something WELL. Do the BEST roast chicken you can, the BEST potato dish you can do, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I immediately thought of roasted chicken. Good choice, OP! Instead of salad I might do a first course of some kind of soup (which you can make in advance). Mushroom bisque is always a hit with my guests. If you want to, make homemade whipped cream to put on the tarts. Another super-easy dessert option is an apple galette (shhh--use Pillsbury ready-made pie crust), and add the aforementioned whipped cream or else a little high-quality vanilla ice cream/gelato. I use the Joy of Cooking recipe but there are tons of recipes on the web.

Let us know how it goes!

don't the crusts have gluten in them? op said MIL is sensitive to it.

I immediately thought of roasted chicken. Good choice, OP! Instead of salad I might do a first course of some kind of soup (which you can make in advance). Mushroom bisque is always a hit with my guests. If you want to, make homemade whipped cream to put on the tarts. Another super-easy dessert option is an apple galette (shhh--use Pillsbury ready-made pie crust), and add the aforementioned whipped cream or else a little high-quality vanilla ice cream/gelato. I use the Joy of Cooking recipe but there are tons of recipes on the web.

Let us know how it goes!

Do they eat lamb? We like doing a leg of lamb for guests.

Anything roasted (turkey breast, chicken, leg of lamb, etc) frees you up to do the sides and entertain. And if you can roast the potatoes and vegetables at the same time, even better.

Add flowers or another centerpiece and good wine. Then relax and enjoy your family.

I was also thinking roast chicken. It's simple and classic.

That sounds great. Another easy one is salmon with some sort of glaze (I use one from Cooking Light), rice, and broccoli.
Store bought dessert and bread is a great idea. And don't forget something good to drink. That always helps folks remember a good time, even if the food isn't perfect.

I like your idea!

We are having my in-laws over for dinner for the first time. They live in a perfect, fully staffed home, and I am nervous about making everything nice. FIL doesn't eat beef or pork. MIL has gluten sensitivities, so something like lasagna is out. They do like fish, as do I (DH doesn't), but I don't cook it at home much.

I was thinking of roasting a chicken and having herb roasted potatoes as a side, along with root vegetables and a salad. I can also get a GF baguette and desserts from the Happy Tart.

Thoughts on this or other ideas?