I've invited a Mummy to lunch tomorrow... help what do I have?

[deegward]

I've met a Mummy at the school gates, as she has a one year old about the same age as ds2. Her other two are older than my ds1 but that's beside the point.

I've invited her and her ds to come over at 12.30 tomorrow, and I know that we mentioned lunch. Ideas Please!!!!!

Soup and a roll if it's cold, roast chicken salad if it's nice. Some finger food for the littlies but I wouldn't provide a full meal for them.

Eeep!

If you don't know her and her child's likes/dislikes then probably the best things are lots of small nibbly things with variety that you can stick in the middle of the table and pick at? Um cheese and crackers, fruit, sandwiches, veg, dip that sort of thing?

Of course the downside is sods law you'll get too much in and end up eating it for the next week and a half (been there, done that!!)

What do you normally have? I wouldn't get too complicated if I were you, just do something simple!

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I usually have pasta and salad and some fresh rolls if I have mums over - the pasta parcel things with the tomato sauce. Quick and easy and kids usually eat that sort of thing too. And a yummy cake for afters!
enjoy your meal

Pizza and salad

Parma Ham
Mozzarella and tomato salad with basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Green salad
Fresh crusty bread
Olives

Strawberries & cream

All sounds scrummy, I think I feel a little outing to M&S to get the stuff in. Agree its best to keep simple. Thanks all

My regular 'other mums' lunch is: Buy bag of salad, nice bread, chicken breasts, mushrooms, slices of cake from deli. Cut up chicken breasts into chunks, slice mushrooms - fry both in plenty of butter and oil (more the merrier). Add bacon if you have it too. Tip cooked chicken into bowl of leaves, add bit more oil and balsamic vinegar, add salt and pepper and mix. Put bread and butter on table, dump salad on plates, and eat. Ideally you will also open a bottle of wine/prosecco and sit outside watching offspring play peaceable in sandpit - if not, pate on toast and tea will do!

Ooh, I am impressed at all these ideas!

I give people beans & cheese on toast - always have it in the house, the kids eat it too, fills you up, and I can concentrate on getting to know the person rather than worrying about the food. And if they invite me back, they know they can just feed me whats in their cupboards too.

But then, cooking was never my thing...

I'd get some easy bits like breadsticks, crisps and veg sticks and dips, some nice fresh bread, make a fruit salad with nice big chunks. just fingery bits that are easy to put out.

I've got a couple of MNers coming to lunch tomorrow. They're getting (organic) baked potatoes. And possibly (organic) baked bananananas.

I would usually do 'cold' ie plate of 3 or 4 cheeses, another of cold meats, bowl of salad and some nice bread. If you are feeling flush, you could also add a flan /quiche thing from M&S to warm in the oven. Most kids like bread & ham or cheese so you should also be able to cater for the little ones. Have fun

Just to keep all upto date. The mum arrived bang on time but..... had already had lunch. This was fine, but I know this was because we hadn't spelt it out that lunch would be included. Anhyhoo had a lovely time, our dss' sat and looked at each other - neither crawl or roll or anything, and we had lots of tea ( I had made a lovely pot of coffee in case) and cake that I had got in for afters.

Have to say, have invited another Mum and son, for ds1 on Tuesday but his time specifically said " we will have lunch"

Thanks to all for advice