I have £130 to buy all food for us untill Thurs week AND the in-laws are coming - anyone feel like helping me plan?

[MagNacarta]

DC's are at school until Weds lunchtime and DH will be working away for four days during this time. The in-laws are coming at the weekend and stay untill Tues, but they will be staying in a hotel so I don't need to count them in for breakfast. Just as well as they like a full English everyday.

So, I think I need to meal plan and then it'll be just about do-able. The IL's usually offer to pay for a take-away for one night, so I'm assuming that's what they'll do this time.

IL's like a 'proper' meal in the evening, but will be happy with sandwiches/salads for lunch.

I'm a bit overwhelmed, so could do with any help or suggestions, please.

[BeastQuest]

god are they fat?

[MagNacarta]

Oh, we have three dc's 6,7,9.

[BeastQuest]

so list the days please

[janeite]

Veggie curry and rice with salad and yoghurty mint sauce is cheap.

Baked potatoes and veggie chilli also cheap.

Soup and bread with a 'proper' pudding is cheap.

[BeastQuest]

but god they are not IL kind of meals.
I do a stew ahead of times.
also this is good and cheap ooh yes and read the reviews

[BeastQuest]

read the reviews

[BecauseImWorthIt]

So how many meals are you looking to plan and who will be there for each meal?

If you're looking for cheap/proper, then something like shepherd's pie would do the trick for one meal.

[BeastQuest]

this also very good

will you all eat together or do you do the kids first?

[janeite]

Wtf is an in-law kind of meal then? Tripe?

[Northernlurker]

Toad in the hole with good butchers sausages

Make a big thing of bolognase sauce and use half for spag bol one night and then the rest for a lasagne a few nights later

Jacket potatoes with cheese, beans and tuna mayo

Vegetable curry?

What have you got in already?

[BeastQuest]

yes even a lasagne is cheap really.

[Sidge]

Spag bol? Pad out a small pack of mince with lots of tomatoes and pasta.

Lasagne? (ditto)

Chicken casserole with a small amount of chicken and lots of veggies and potatoes.

[BeastQuest]

oh god these sound so DIRE and depressing though

" veggie curry" would make my heart sink

try this

[MagNacarta]

Oh - how lovely.

I've got enough to keep us going until Monday.

Monday 20th - Lunch - just me
Evening Meal - Me and 3 dc's

Tues 21st - Lunch - just me
Evening Meal - Me and 3 dc's

Weds 22nd - Lunch - just me
Evening Meal - Me and 3 dc's

Thurs 23rd - Lunch - me & 3dc's
Evening Meal - Me,DH & 3dc's

Friday 24th - Lunch - me,dh & 3dc's
Evening Meal - Me, dh & 3dc's

Sat 25th - Lunch - 2GP's, DH, Me & 3 dc's
Evening Meal - hoping for takeway

Sun 26th - Lunch & Evening meal - 2 GP's & DH (me & 3dc's have to go out and will take sandwiches)

Mon 27th - Lunch - GP's, Me & 3 dc's
Evening Meal - GP's, Me & 3 dc's

Tues 28th - Lunch - GP's, Me & 3 dc's
Evening Meal - GP's, Me & 3 dc's

Weds 29th - Lunch - Me & 3dc's
Evening Meal - DH, Me & 3dc's

Thursday - phew it's payday, pig out.

Looking at it typed out, I'm starting to panic now.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

How about fajitas? Put a pile of wraps on the table and serve all/some of the following on separate plates:

mixed peppers, sliced and fried in olive oil till nicely charred

griddled courgettes and/or aubergines that have been sliced thinly lengthways

sliced, fried onions

a couple of roast chicken breasts, shredded

grated cheese

sour cream/yoghurt

guacamole

salsa

jalapeno peppers (from a jar, e.g. Old El Paso)

[MagNacarta]

Haven't included breakfast because it'll be cereal/toast/porridge - no full English .

[Northernlurker]

Well BQ - she is trying to feed between 4 and 7 people for 11 days - that's about 12 quid a day so we're not exactly going to be overwhelmed with exciting stuff and vegetables are generally cheaper than meat.

[janeite]

Well if they eat curry, something like Nigella's mattar paneer is lovely and not at all the 'veggie curry from hell' of which the Beast seems so afraid!

[BeastQuest]

ah oyu and the kids cna have cheapy stuff all week then save posho for ILs.
cheest pasta
baked spuds
fish finger sarnies etc

[MagNacarta]

Beast Quest - hmm, they are largish. BTW did you notice a review of that recipe from Cod?

[MadameCastafiore]

Mushroom Risotto

Just need bag of risotto rice, parmesan, stock cubes, dried mushrooms and some streaky bacon - if you want to add chicken or asparagus you can or you could do a prawn and pea one - works out cheap for a big family.

Frittata - with chorizo, prawn, peas, orange pepper and red onion.

Pasta with chorizo and courgette and spicy tomato sauce.

Ham, egg nad home made potato wedges good meal and relatively cheap.

Veggie pasta bake is nice and cheap.

Make a big ministrone soup and have parmesan to grate into it and lovely warm fresh baguettes (those part baked ones).

Tacos - work out cheap if you do them for lots of people.

[BeastQuest]

I did! lordy she gets everywhere.

[BeastQuest]

This is a fave here chez Beast as its cheap( altho I use skinless thighs) and really nice.

[Cesario]

[aarghhelp]

Thinking back to my parents and what they would have liked, I wonder, if they are full English breakfast sort o people, if they would really like trad English food?

How about a casserole (some cheap but tasty slow cooked meat) for Sun, Shepherds or cottage pie for Mon, and then something like cauliflower cheese or toad in the hole with baked potatoes for Tues?