Any suggestions for tasty not-too-much-effort dinner for 4? Can't be totally unimpressive though!

[WideWebWitch]

We have a couple coming for supper tomorrow night, with their children, who are 8yo twins. The idea is that I pick up the children, feed them and mine, about 5 ish, then I cook some food for all of us adults at about 8ish (their stipulation, the time, hmm). Dd will then go to bed at 7.30 while we eat and the 3 older ones watch a dvd. Apparently he doesn't like creamy sauces, which is fine because neither do I but I can't think what to cook. Criteria:

Not too much effort. I will have 4 children here from 3.30 - 5 on my own, can't be faffing too much
Doesn't require much looking after since I want to chat to the mum when she gets here at 5, not be in the kitchen
Can be produced quickly at 8pm when the father gets here

I have a Tesco delivery slot booked and need to order in the next hour to keep the slot. Ah, so also, I can't start cooking it until 6 because that's the latest time the delivery could get here! So nothing in advance unless it's v easy to get this pm (I could make it to Sainsbury's). TIA for any suggestions.

peel and half some apples (enough to cover in one layer the base of a frying pan that can go in oven (cast iron number). melt a big big chunk of butter, stick the apples in arranged so that the cut halves face upwards. sprinkle loads of sugar in and fry on gentle heat covered until apples soft and sugar and butter a butterscotchy (add more of either if it looks like needs it). drape over a bit of ready rolled puff pastry, cut round edge with knife, stick in oven (temp on pastry packet) for 10 mins or so (til pastry risen and golden, turn over using a plate and serve with good vanilla icecream

Well actually soph, the invitation was 'do you want to come round for supper and the children can watch a dvd while we eat' NOT I'll collect your TWO kids and have them from 3.30-5 and then you turn up and THEN your dh turns up 3 hours later. I know, shall I cancel?!! I could, we're moving! I don't know them that well!

[horrified emoticon] CANCEL. have lovely (healthy ;) ) supper in with dh!!!!! ffs!

please don't go to much effort

its all a bit of a cheek really

buy a pudding or if you must cook one make brownies in advance and give htem to the kids and then pile them up on a plate with some nice chocs and serve them for adult pud too

Bloomin cheek, hand them a take away menu as they walk in the door, are they new to the area ? are they trying to make friends ?

It is isn't it? And I am bolsy and not easily taken advantage of. I only sort of realised this morning that this was her suggestion at pick up time yesterday. AND her dd only wants to come home with me if dd is here, and I wouldn't normally pick her up first, dh would get her on his way home normally. So maybe I will say 'actually, see you both at 7 adn bring the children then' i.e. I don't have to feed/look after her 2, just my 2.

I am bolshy not bolsy!

sounds a good plan

invent a docs appt for earlier in the day ;)

absolutely definitely don't do the early pick up....7pm with kids is a lovely invite.....

and definitely no effort...reckon it's tapas, or something really really easy and bought in pud....seriously...

Ok, have JUST called and spoken to the dh and said 'I'm changing the plan, see you all at 7ish, ok?' :) And they're getting tomato tart (just found the recipe, it's lovely) and garlic bread and olives I think.

good. quite right. you'll all have a better time for it i reckon.

:)

How did it go www ?What did you cook ?

Just so happens Im in dire need of some new easy recipes !