What food can I leave for DCs to prepare themselves?

[dustyanswer]

I'm going out early tomorrow (about 5.45) as my BFF is taking me to a birthday treat. DH is coming back from a trip abroad (pleasure, not business) at about 7, 7.30. The DCs are old enough to be left home alone but don't know how to prepare anything beyond filled pasta or pizza. So my problem is I need to think of a dish that can be prepared ahead of time and left for either DCs or DH to stick heat under. I can't do cottage pie as I need that for the weekend. Can't be anything that'll take a long time after DH gets back as the DCs will be hungry.
Reluctant to resort to pizza because they had that on Friday night but maybe I should just give in and make life easy for myself...

[Bowlersarm]

Can't they just have sandwiches as a one off? I really wouldn't stress about it. Just something they can eat easily.

[atticusclaw]

Make chilli or bolognese that they simply have to reheat.

Or a lasagne or moussaka which they just bung in the oven.

[Snozberry]

I was going to say sandwiches too, or sausage rolls or something else picnic-y.

[redcaryellowcar]

Would they eat quiche, most supermarkets so ready made ones perhaps with a bag of salad?

[Schoolchauffeur]

How old are they? I'd go with a chilli and microwave rice or bolognaise. Or do a pan of fajita filling and a bowl of salad so all they have to do is quickly reheat the filling and warm through the tortilla things and shove their filling in

[redcaryellowcar]

Higgidy pies do very tasty crust less quiche with spinach and red pepper and feta, very tasty.

[dustyanswer]

DS1 is teenage boy so sandwiches would have him quivering piteously in a corner begging for more, plus it has to feed DH too and although my sympathy is limited as he's been away on a jolly, he WILL be hungry.

I don't have time to make lasagne or moussaka but the chilli idea is a good 'un. They can have sloppy joes so they won't even have to cook rice...

Thank you! I knew there was a simple solution somewhere lurking but I find meal-planning stressful at the best of times due to DCs' wildly differing and shifting tastes; factor in my not actually being there to cook and I'm gibbering.

xx

[Snozberry]

Ahh teenagers, whole other league of hunger!

The mccains micro jacket potatoes are nice imo, as a side if you do go with chilli.

[dustyanswer]

I'll check those out Snoz, thanks.

I had heard of the teenage-boy-hunger phenomenon but until you actually have one in the house you can't comprehend what it's like.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Re rice, you can buy 4 x bags of frozen for a £1. Microwaveable, they are very useful (I work shifts).

[Artandco]

In future Though, all teens should be able to cook a huge variety of meals.

Personally I would let them make cheese on toast or something, and get dh to help them cook at 7.30/8pm when home