Anonymous wrote:[code]

My husband’s family is visiting from overseas for 3 weeks over the summer.
We will probably travel half the time but while they are staying with us, I need to feed them.

I’m used to cooking for 5 people but now it will be 12 people and that’s very different.
Also, my husband’s mother is strictly vegetarian but won’t eat salads, veggie burgers or tofu among other things. She typically eats her own cooking - Indian food. I will likely have to make her food separately too.
That’s another issue because she won’t eat chick peas and all my Indian food recipes are with chicken or chick peas.

But for the rest of the group who eat anything but red meat - any recipes that work for large groups???
Breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas

I’ll make my homemade macaroni and cheese for kids and large salads to have on hand along with sandwich supplies. Maybe a French toast casserole one morning and sometimes they will have eggs/toast or cereal and fruit.

But I’m overwhelmed by this. I’m a decent cook but I get nervous trying new recipes for other people so I’m going to start experimenting soon.

Any easy meal recipes appreciated since I’m likely shopping, planning, cooking and cleaning alone.

Anonymous wrote:Look, you need to have an honest conversation with your DH about what his family will eat. I am Indian American. I have relatives in India who eat everything and some who are vegetarian and also don’t eat onion or garlic. Some who are fine with any cuisine and others who only like South Indian food. So, for them the PPs suggestion of aloo gobi etc would not work, even if it seems like it should to most people. I would say that even my flexible Indian relatives get tired of non-Indian food after a couple days. So if you are trying to make them feel comfortable, I would talk to your husband about whether they will enjoy Mediterranean, pancakes etc. After two days, that would mostly be a waste for my family (although pizza, pasta, and Mexican are more popular than other non-Indian foods).

Also, make it a group effort. It seems like you aren’t Indian. They don’t expect you to have perfected everything. So meal plan with them once they get here. And I can’t tell you how many times I have been talking and gossiping with family as we cooked - each person cutting vegetables etc. etc. Make it a fun part of the trip together. You don’t have to cover this by yourself, although you wil need to take the lead. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:As an Indian American who is used to this scenario; if you aren’t used to cooking large quantities of Indian veg food then don’ start now. Enlist the visiting relatives to help but only if they are used to cooking back home and/or get food catered and purchase staples like frozen rotis and a big bag of rice.