Any ideas for special family birthday meal?

[llareggub]

I've got two sets of grandparents coming for my 2 year old DS's birthday tea. He'll be the only child present.

We'll all eat anything, apart from FIL who will only eat plain food. Think anything British, really. He doesn't even do pasta. My father won't eat cheese or tomatoes.

What I'm after are some ideas for a meal I can mostly prepare this afternoon and finish off tomorrow, as I don't want to spend all day cooking on my son's birthday. All I can think of is some sort of roast or casserole, but all ideas gratefully received!

I've flicked through a few cookery books this morning and they all seem a bit too fussy for FIL and the occasion, really. What would you do?

[smellybunion]

how about a nice home made shepherds pie or cottage pie?

make it with lean steak mince, and lots of butter in the potatoes...i put parsnips in mine that give it a nice sweetness. dead easy, can do it today and keep it in the fridge and whack in the oven tomorrow...

nice bottle of wine, birthday cake for afters.....sorted!

have a lovely day.

[llareggub]

Good idea....thanks.

[suzywong]

cracking idea
can't go wrong
extra gravy, frozen peas, sliced carrots and broccoli

Apple pie from bakery for afterwards with good quality custard in a carton.

[llareggub]

I'm going to do it. Off to Waitrose in a bit to get the ingredients. Love the parsnip idea!

[smellybunion]

god....i feel like i've landed now, getting praise on mn!

i put a tin of baked beans in mine too as a secret ingredient....sounds manky, but makes up a really lovely taty gravy and sort of gives the meaty bit bulk iykwim...

try it!!

[suzywong]

Wooooaaaaahh there smellybunion!

Tins of baked beans are NOT I repeat NOT an ingredient. They are a thing of and in themselves and should NOT be added to another dish.

No no no no

Go back to the fringes of MN and try again later

[smellybunion]

try it suzy.........

it sounds so wrong, i agree, but it tastes sooooooo right!

trust me!

[suzywong]

I cannot
the secret society of worldwide chefs will ask me for my hat and apron back

[smellybunion]

i KNOW i'm right on this! lol

i know i should have kept my secret ingredient just that!

[biscuitsmustbedunkedintea]

Smellybunion is right. Baked beans are an essential part of any shepherds pie

And as for decent custard, you want to try Tesco Value Custard in a tin. Damn good stuff

[janeite]

Step away from the baked beans. They are the food of demons.

[biscuitsmustbedunkedintea]

but they are soooo good

[llareggub]

Righto.

Shepherds Pie, sans baked beans, is in the oven. Now off to make assemble the tractor birthday cake from swiss roll. Apple crumble and custard (from Waitrose, couldn't get to Tesco) for grown-ups.

Now all I have to do is tidy up!

PS We put baked beans in chilli