Help menu planning (ILs will be here for maybe 10 days...)

[HappyGoLuckyLuLu]

As in title - for a variety of reasons, we're ending up with ILs from the weekend before Xmas until maybe 28th or 29th (COVID-permitting). I'll be still working as will DH the week beforehand, and so I'm trying to get ahead of myself with some meal prep now of things I can freeze so things are a bit easier before and after amid everything else that needs to be sorted (YIKES!)

Please please hit me up with ideas of things I can cook this weekend and freeze, or things that will be easy to make that week (ideally that elderly, don't eat that much ILs, and slightly picky think 'food items can't touch on the plate' kids will all consume and love well, ok will minimally manage to choke down). I've all our regulars, but was hoping for some tasty new options (have slow cooker and instant pot, so can get them all going this weekend if I get my arse in gear).

I have made a butternut squash curried soup, and a beef stew already, so not quite starting from zero, but that's maybe 1 day done - course it's lunches needed too - I wfh, and they're not going to have car or be able to get out and about while here, so I'll be needing to sort them then too - sigh. I'm tired already just thinking about it - cheese/ham butties may be the staple meal this festive season .

Thank you lovely Mumsnet people xxx

Ok so easy things to offer
French bread pizza - slice French stick down the centre line, cut into pizza sized slices, slice up toppings (mushroom, ham, pineapple etc etc, pop into little dishes. Provide grated cheese and a tube of tomato puree. Empty a bag of salad into a big bowl

Get them to make their own - puree on bread, add a little cheese, pop toppings on add a little more cheese, grill until cheese meets and starts to brown (about 7 mins) pop on a plate add salad and dressing voilà!

Another easy one is one pot stew - chuck everything into one pot. Put on low heat. Leave for 2 hours, taste it. If its OK and potatoes/Carrots are soft it's done. Serve with crusty bread. I don't even bother sealing the meat, lol! Alternatively, 20mins before you're ready to eat, make some dumplings or ask them to make the dumplings, add them. Wait 20 mins and serve!

Boil rice 15-20mins on low heat. Chuck chicken in an oiled wok or big pan, fry it till cooked. Add a packet of stir fry veg, add a bottled sauce you like. Put rice in a bowl, add chicken stir fry on top. Use chop sticks

Make up some stuffing, fry some onions and veggies anything is good. Mix onions and veg in. Pop into a loaf tin alongside frozen chips. 30mins later Serve with gravy.

All day breakfast - frued sausage, bacon , beans and toast. Add eggs if you can be bothered. All cooked in less than 20mins.

Hassle I know, like I said get them to help they're not in a hotel but at your house!!

For lunches I would take the thinking out of it and there's no need to come up with a range of exciting options a day so I would do.

1: soup and roll
2: sandwich and crisps

1. Eggs / beans / cheese on toast

And then rotate back to soup and roll and repeat.

It would drive me mad to have to invest time thinking about two meals a day in detail!

Lots of great suggestions. My favourite for guests is Salmon with lemon in buttered foil parcels - they look fantastic and are very quick and easy. Can be prepped in the morning too. Serve with couscous or jacket potato and some green beans.

If you have a local Cook store go and stock up on a few meals from them. Taste like homemade, portions are generous and they don’t need to be faffed with - just shoved in the oven.

I would also ask your in laws if they fancy being responsible for some meals, or lunches. They will probably be grateful to have something to do. Or if they don’t cook, ask them about for some dishes they like.

I hate the ILs bashing on Mumsnet. They are your DH’s parents..
but in all honestly, I’d do fish and chips one night as easy, I’d get a pizza another and maybe go out for dinner. Then it’s only 6/7 batch meals to cook

I second buying some meals from Cook for at least 3 of the days or you will be knackered. What about a holiday for you, it’s not just cooking and prep but cleaning and clearing up as well. Although you must be quite restricted if they will not mix food on a plate. Sounds like meat and two veg is the way to go.

If they are getting a free Xmas from you they should be sending you a lovely food hamper (or at least paying for a takeaway every other night).

Otherwise it’s pot luck (and your DH roped in to cooking every second meal).

chesirecat99 those all sound really good.

Op I have my MIL for 12 days 😁 she lives far away and is too scared to travel on public transport at mo, so we will pick her up before Christmas around work and then take her home between Christmas and New Year. Great ideas on here! I find that you need to try not to stress and not to make it too elaborate. She actually is quite happy with a jacket potato, pasta, toast! She eats simply at home so wouldn't survive 12 days on rich food. She doesn't like to cook, but she will bake so will be set tasks to help towards Christmas! Sometimes I used to overplan and have a huge menu. Now I realise she's happy to put up with the normal detritus that I serve up for dinner 😂😂