Please help me urgently prep for judgy friend visit!!!!!!

I voted YABU because your DH should be doing all the cleaning and meal preparing for HIS mate and HIS mate’s annoying partner.
However, that’s it not what you asked and to actually help you- my plan would be, get myself and DH and kids cracking on a big tidy and clean of house (plus that will be nice for you all to enjoy when the house is all nice anyway) and I would go to M&S or Waitrose and get crusty breads, nice butter, cheeses, olives and a few more things for a mezze type spread. Then afterwards make sure my DH doesn’t do this to me again!

This is happening tomorrow? Buy everything ready made, unwrap it all, plate it up and pour yourself a large glass of wine before they arrive. Lots of good buffet suggestions already made. The only room I would ensure is spotless would be the bathroom guests will be using.

I'd get crusty baguettes, cheeses, cold meats and picky bits like peppers stuffed with goats cheese, olives, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and mozzarella pearls, cornichons. Crisps and dips like hummus, tzatziki etc. Couple of desserts, lemon tart & chocolate cheesecake.

Frankly, I'm with the earlier poster..just why? You don't have a relationship with her. Provide a meal -lasagne and salad sounds perfect- because that's good manners, clean loo, then smile sweetly!

Go to Iceland,buy loads of party food and laugh at her judgey face.

Restaurant or Taco/burrito set up.

Your husband invited them, it's super short notice, and you're doing the work, so I wouldn't strain myself.

Your husband's a dick and so is Judgey Pants.

Totally agree. Why play her game? It’s exhausting and pointless.

A really considerate host would give the judgey individual plenty to judge! Then everyone's happy.

Cold cuts, nice bread, cheese, luxury pickles, big salad, butter. Eton Mess for dessert? Not quite the right time of year but one can always find raspberries these days.

Could even serve a ready-made soup for starters.

I expect the husband will be 'working very long hours', which seem to be the default reason so many MNetters run themselves ragged, and actually end up putting in way more hours than the men.

I'm sure your husband can book a table at a nearby restaurant, then tell his good friend you'll meet them there instead.

If your DH has done the inviting, what is he doing to host them? Has he done the cleaning and sorted out the food? Nothing for you to do.

Life is too short to try to impress judgy people. What would your ideal Saturday lunch be? Whatever that is, do it. At this time of year I would go for soup, bread and a couple of seriously nice cheeses with fruit and cream for afters. Be true to yourself and then at least you will be happy. In my experience judgy people are never going to be happy with you anyway. They much prefer being judgy to enjoying themselves.

Why?

Just put some sarnies and pom bears out.

Or let your husband sort it

This.

Life is too short to spend time with people like this. Why isn’t your husband cooking and cleaning for his good friend?

Make whatever you fancy eating.

clean to your own standard

give her the vs behind her back at every given opportunity

Fancy soup and bread with like olives and butter on a wooden plank always looks fancy!

Just put the (ready made) soup in a pot on the stove 🤣

A salad with something fancy like walnuts, goats cheese, peaches, bacon is always a nice extra fancy side.

And quiche! A big family quiche.

hide the boxes

This is how I would prepare.

Go to booking. com
Find myself a nice hotel
pack my case
leave my house
Return after departure of judgey guest

Thinking this too!

Go to M&S - buy a couple of lasagnas - decant into a baking dish. Put ready made bistro salad into a salad bowl. Hide the evidence.

If she asks for the recipe - faint.

Enjoy your evening :)

Also this option! 🤣🙌

I was thinking this too. He is friends with her husband, if you went out then she might take the hint.
Is she jealous or something?

Christ, would all of you giving suggestions really do all the cooking, cleaning and hosting for this woman just because the blokes are friends??

OP, why on earth didn't you tell your husband to either host it himself, or better still to suggest a meal in a restaurant?

Agree with the suggestions of making one meal for everyone to eat...but in case there's dietary preferences or allergies I'd go with a grazing style table // buffet...

Cold meats
Charcuterie
Dips
Crackers
Baguette
Butter
Fruit
Hummus
Veggie sticks - peppers, carrots, celery, cucumber, cherry tomatoes
Cheeses
Smoked salmon
Quiche
Pizza for teens?

Just buy it, take it out of packages and pop onto plates or dishes? Napkins, plates in a stack and a glass or jug full of cutlery for everyone to help themselves.

Pudding could be shop bought meringues (piled up on a plate) then strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in dishes, cream in a jug and ice cream out to serve themselves. Buy some tubs of brownies / crispy cakes / those mini rolls etc and pile those up on a plate too.

Have a drinks station of glasses and drinks options so people can help themselves to that too.

And sorry you've got to put up with someone who isn't your cup of tea!

What @OptiMummsaid.