non veggie friends coming for dinner tonight, advice needed

[gemandjule]

I've left this very late. In my defence, the arrangement was only made last night!
I've invited a couple of good friends over for dinner tonight, casual Friday night dinner and glass of wine. My problem is we are vegetarian, actually mainly plant-based when at home ourselves but happy to be flexible with that. This is not normally an issue as most of our friends will happily eat vegetarian food. This couple are very plain traditional eaters though. This is not a criticism, they are lovely and great company but the man especially really only eats meat and potatoes, not even vegs as a side. I don't have an ethical objection to cooking meat, it's more environmental than ethical for us, but I would prefer not to eat it myself and my husband is the same. I am working until approx 4.30 and they are coming for 7.30.
So any suggestions? Suck it up and prepare 2 meals and a dessert after work this evening! Any easy veggie meals that might possibly be acceptable to plain eating non-veggies?

I'd go with LG's cheese and onion pie mainly because I want her to post the recipe

I would also.like LGs pie recipe...😁

@LGFuad I would love to see your granny’s recipe

I would do your normal plant based food, a nice potatoe side and something with meat for your guests that was prepared ie pie/roast in a tray.

Macaroni and cheese 😁

I'd make a big pot of lovely veggie chilli with rice.

My grandma's recipe is below - so simple I don't even think you can call it a recipe but it always goes down really well with everybody, is quick (especially if you use Jus Rol), easy and cheap! One of the staple recipes in my house.

1. Line a pie dish with some shortcrust pastry. Slice a largeish onion quite finely, put it in the microwave with some water, cook until softened
2. While this is cooking, grate about 300g cheese into a mixing bowl. Cheddar works well, or sometimes I use Lancashire but it will make the filling a bit more wet.
3. When onions are cooked, drain them and add to cheese. Add teaspoon of Colman's mustard, a sprinkle of paprika and a bit of black pepper. Mix it all together, the cheese will melt a bit.
4. Put into lined pie dish and add pastry lid. Bake (until it is done - normally about 25-30 minutes ish!)

I have a feeling it might have even come from my great-grandma. Both time & money poor Lancashire working mothers...this, soup and brilliant puddings and cakes are my grandma's forte.

2nd mac and cheese.

I would be very embarrassed if a vegetarian friend felt that they had to cook meat for DH while everyone else had something else.

Sausage and mash sounds fab. I was going to suggest doing a egi meal and putting sausages on the side for him.

Macaroni cheese and chips 😁

www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/simon-rimmer-s-peppered-mushroom-and-stilton-pie

I've made this a few times for meat eaters always goes down well. I never use the green peppercorns (just add a bit more pepper) also used dried mushrooms adding the liquid and red wine to the sauce.

LG

LGF I'm impressed that your great granny had a microwave! How do those of us that don't cook the onions?

Macaroni Cheese, salad and garlic bread.

But he has accepted your invitation and he knows you are vegetarian, he shouldn't expect to be served meat? I've got a vegetarian friend and if he invites us for lunch or dinner I know we are obviously eating vegetarian food, I wouldn't expect him to cook any meat for me, that's unreasonable. Your friend can surely survive without eating meat for one meal!

I think the tartiflette suggestion is a good one, just with potato and cheese and some salad on the side, that is filling!

Yes, I would imagine the microwave is a more recent adaptation of the microwave but it is the only one I have seen being used! Without one though I would probably boil the onions in a pan - the idea is to get them soft and cooked but not caramelised.

to get the onions for pie soft without a microwave slice them up put in the pan a big knob of butter and two tablespoons of water salt and pepper and put on the hob on the lowest possible gas, and leave them to simmer, stirring occasionally so they dont stick and when they are really soft and just statring to go beige coloured they are ready

pockets I can’t do links but you go onto the BBC good food site and search for golden veggie shepherds pie.
OP, hope you’re having a lovely evening!