What to feed in-laws for lunch?

[VintedoreBay]

My in-laws are coming later this week to see their DGC (3 and 10m). I take the kids to a playgroup all morning every week on the day they'll be coming to visit and we will get home pretty much as in-laws arrive. DH arranged the visit with in-laws knowing all this and also he is conveniently away with work (ha!).

They'll be here for lunch and I've no idea what to cook for us all that's a bit better than beans on toast or scrambled eggs or cheese sandwiches (because they won't eat those options).

Last time I did slow cooked pulled pork so don't want to do that again, and before that I did Bolognese but got told mine was "ooh how very continental" because I shoved in extra veg (you know, for the kids!)

Any suggestions?! What do you serve your in-laws when they visit for lunch?

Something quick and simple please!!

My go to quick easy meal but good enough for guests is salmon, new potatoes and steamed vegetables. If they don’t eat fish , replace with rotisserie chicken.

shepherds pie
coronation chicken, baguettes and salad
Cold poached salmon and salads
soups and sandwiches

Jacket potatoes done in the oven while you are out plus variety of fillings and salad?

Soup is also a good shout

That's a good shout.

I haven't got salmon in, but I've got white fish fillets, pancetta, new potatoes and cherry toms.

Not entirely sure the kids would eat it!

Quiche and salad
Roast chicken/rotisserie chicken with salad and nice bread/new potatoes
Omelettes with salad/chips if you're feeling indulgent
Pie and veg
Burgers
Tortellini or gnocchi with a sauce

On another note, I'd be so cross at my husband if he arranged for my in laws to come when he was away!

Not sure how comfortable I feel with leaving the oven on while we're out!

Do others do this?

Quiche and salad.
Or maybe a pie.

@biscuitcat yeah we've had words about that. He's got previous unfortunately. He's away a lot with work midweek so likes spending weekends at home and would rather not 'waste a weekend' on his parents 😂 his words not mine!! On another note, I'd be so cross at my husband if he arranged for my in laws to come when he was away!

Home-made soup & cheese scones. Make the soup & scone mix in advance. Heat the soup in the microwave & bake the scones in the oven. (They take 15 mins).

Can your DH cook something that can be heated up when in-laws turn up?

Soup is a good call, especially if you’re not heading to the shops again. Serve with some cheese too.

I wouldn't want a cooked meal at lunchtime. Spag bol, shepherds pie etc are more suited for teatime.

For lunch I'd want something lighter like sandwiches, wraps, jacket potato, omelette, quiche & salad etc.

I was going to suggest all of the above 😂

What do your children like? There is no point suggesting something they won’t eat. It’s probably not the best time to introduce something new to them.

How about carbonara and salad as you already have pancetta? You could make an egg free version with cream if you don’t want to serve lightly cooked eggs to the DC.

I think I've got leeks in the freezer and I know I've got spuds in the cupboard.

Leek and potato soup is a good shout.

With some bread and cheese on the side.

They always do a cooked meal at lunch when we go and visit them, they expect reciprocal!

I’d get a rotisserie chicken and do a good salad on the side. Nice bread and cheese if you want to bulk it out.

We usually have part baked bread, cheese, deli meats, pate, salad.

If you’re just getting in as they are arriving that limits the hot food. I would say lasagne, but that takes a good 45mins to heat up in the oven.

Do they eat pasta? Filled pasta takes seconds.

You can do jacket potatoes in the slow cooker. Serve with salad and some topping options
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/4497526/recipe/jacket-potatoes-slow-cooker

My go to for feeding guests at lunch time is always a chunky minestrone soup with cheesey garlic bread. Can be made in advance so just needs heating up. Other options sausages? Either a traybake or posh hotdogs?

But they don't have 2 young kids running around to contend with on their own. Make soup in slow cooker and have some bread rolls, toasties what ever you fancy. I'd be so angry if my husband did this

Home made soup and a Spanish omelette (just potatoes in it) which is best made in advance. And a baguette and some green salad?

Make a quiche the day before and serve it with salad and nice bread.

Tell them you'll meet them in a cafe! And they can buy you lunch!

Can’t they bring lunch with them?
Are you not very close to them? It all sounds oddly formal