Something quick to feed in laws after a journey

[DinkeyDonkey]

MIL and FIL are visiting for a few days. Not sure yet what time they will arrive and we are working but I would like to have something available for them to eat after their journey. I do not necessarily want to cook and do not want to order a takeaway as we are taking them out the following day.

What is quick and easy to have for them in case they are hungry?

Ideas:

Simple BBQ food like kebabs or chicken skewers if weather is ok but don't think it is

Some nice meats, bread, olives and cheese so they can snack especially if they arrive later

DH said put a pizza in the oven

Help!

I should say they do not go overboard for us and this will largely be fuelled by me rather than DH but also they will not have expectations of us and are staying elsewhere so as not to impose (and also as they might prefer it!)

Quiche, bag of salad, coleslaw and crusty bread?

Charcuterie, bread, cheese

Shepherds pie in individual sized dishes that can be microwaved or oven heated

Quiche and salad

Omlettes

Spag bol (just cook the pasta once they arrive and are hungry)

Can your husband not put a pizza in the oven on his own? I know they are hard for men to open but if you start the training programme now he should be up to speed by the time they arrive?

Soup, bread cheese

Soup, cheese on toast, bacon or sausage sandwiches, omelettes.

I was going to say pizza but I actually prefer your idea of meats, cheeses, bread olives etc. It's v easy to sort but can be very filling, and they can take as much or as little as they feel like. Plus the leftovers are always easy to use up.

She hasn't said he wouldn't 🤷🏻‍♀️ She's just asking for food suggestions

Yes I was thinking that sort of stuff - bread and bits to eat with bread!

Didn't think of soup.

I thought about chilli rather than bolognese but didn't think about it.

@AlisonDonut Yes he can put a pizza in the oven and actually does most of the cooking in our house. I am not sure whther his response is down to not thinking ahead or just because he doesn't feel like making an effort for his parents. Probably the former.

I’d do soup with nice bread and also have some nice cheese, crackers and fruit available.

Then if they don’t want anything it will all keep for another day

I might do a chilli so we can have chilli and rice, tacos or nachos if they want something hot & also get some nice bread, cheese, ham, meat, cheese as I'm sure either will come in use over the weekend while they are here.

Just make anything that you know they eat. You must know what they eat and presumably you’ve made quick meals before.

Would you make your own soup @Rainbowqueeen ? I like homemade veg soups but DH isn't for them and I find other people's homemade soups a bit unpalatable at times!

Not sure I'd want soup at this time of year

Coleslaw or potato salad/new potatoes then do some sausages to go with it?
Curry in a slow cooker?
Pasta with an easy sauce?

I'd get some nice meat/cheese/olives plus bread and nice crisps in - thats scalable to anything from 'oh, we stopped for dinner' to 'absolutely starving'. Maybe get some mini new potatoes in so you can do a quick salad with them or serve hot with butter as they are so fast to cook if the ils are on the hungrier side and you want it to look more of a plated meal

IME, even the simplest BBQ always ends up as much more hard work than cooking in the kitchen 😂

I would be very pleased to be offered a selection of charcuterie and cheese, olives, bread etc

Won't you need dinner too? I would make something that you usually eat for dinner that can be prepped ahead and can easily be reheated or kept warm eg shepherds pie, chilli, spag bol, lasagne.

My standby 5 minute effort recipes for unexpected guests are poached salmon and potato salad or quiche and tomato salad, both with whatever-is-in-the-fridge salad, and Eton mess if I need a pudding. I would usually have the ingredients fridge or freezer. I keep a packet of M&S pastry cases and meringues in the store cupboard for such emergencies! They are almost as good as homemade and last forever!

Poached salmon fillets take 5 minutes or you could make it the night before and serve cold. Shop bought potato salad would be fine if you can't be bothered to make your own.

Fresh stuffed pasta drizzled with olive oil or garlic butter, fresh parmesan and some other kind of garnish (fresh herbs, chopped bacon, crispy onions, garlic breadcrumbs) with salad is another quick and easy option.

What time are they arriving? If it's during the day/up to late afternoon ish, I'd do a spread of cold salad picnic things - meats/cheese, nice bread and butter, olives, bowl of crisps. That way if they have dinner plans later or just ate so as not to intrude, it's the sort of thing they can pick at or just leave. Something like a bowl of soup is harder to refuse as it gets served directly to you. When MIL comes, we often do quiche and salad because she is low carb - but personally I'd rather have the above than quiche and if she'd eat loads of cheese on bread, I'd do that instead.

Not yet sure what time but I would guess they'd drive up in the afternoon and arrive around 5pm but will need to check with MIL.

Sandwiches
Scones, jam and cream
Soreen and cheese
Pork pie
Sausages, scotch eggs, pickles
Savoury muffins

I wouldn't go overboard.

Scones is a nice idea

I'd assemble a lasagna or as you suggest a chilli. The chilli all you have to do is heat it up and do the rice! Sounds ideal - it might even taste better.

A rotisserie chicken, some baguettes, preprepared salads, cheeses, coleslaw and potato salad. Et voila.

something like gammon (I would have this cooked and would use it anyway even if they don’t feel up to eating much) with jersey spuds and salad