What would be good, slightly special, dinner after a long journey?

[Cristiane]

hi, I seem to have run out of inspiration

Family coming to stay and have a eight hour car journey to get here. I will be at work all day so need to think of something that will feed all of us happily without too much last minute prep...

For some reason my dd not too keen on ragu based dishes, so can you suggest anything else? The kids are all under ten, hoped we would eat together and once the excitement had died down, pack them off to bed then have some nice salad wine and cheese and a natter.

I do want to make something qite special but not too tricky! Any ideas?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I always think a hearty casserole fits the bill. Easy to make in advance, can be 'jooshed up' for guests and won't spoil if their eight hour journey turns into a nine hour one. Something classic like Coq Au Vin or Beef in Ale will sit in the oven quite happily for as long as necessary. Pop on some brown/wild rice and vegetables when they are 20 minutes away... big loaf of crusty bread for the hungry types.

[tassisssss]

For me, travelling with 3 kids under 9, one of my survival strategies is to keep on feeding the kids. Therefore I'm always aware my kids may eat v little and will def not want to sit nicely and eat a nice meal on arrival when they've been sitting in the car for hours and hours.

Is it possible to do easy kids tea, put them all to bed and then something lovely for grown ups? Nigella's spanish chicken and chorizo takes about 3 mins to assemble and then an hour in the oven.

If it were good friends I'd do pizza or fish fingers or bolognese for kiddies first and let them eat fast and run off and play.

[Cristiane]

Yes that's a great point about the continual feeding in the car.

Hmmm. Maybe some pizza when they arrive they can run around in the garden, parents can have a drink, then once they are in bed running amok we can sit down to something

[tassisssss]

That's what I'd do for sure! Have a lovely time with your friends.

[GreenTeapot]

Agree, we regularly do day-long journeys and the idea of getting the DC to sit down to food on arrival is optimistic! Pizza can be bunged in the oven at short notice and served with some crudites, then the small manic ones can help themselves.

[monkies]

I'd do Tuna (or smoked salmon) pasta.
Just fry up onions ans garlic, add white wine (or not for kids maybe), chuck in the fish with some pesto / or tomato puree, s&p, add cream (or creme fraiche / sour cream) at the the last minute warm it all up and stir in cooked pasta. It all takes about 10 mins.
Good with salad and wine
Enjoy!