I have a newborn and guests - what can I make

[Pumpkindoodles]

I have some lovely family members doing an 8 hour round trip to meet my baby this weekend. They are lovely and wouldn’t expect anything at all, but when we visit them they are amazing hosts, and so id like to at least make an effort for lunch. Is there something really really easy I can make ahead of time with a baby that doesn’t like to be put down for more than a minute or two?
bonus points if it’s vegetarian, they aren’t but they don’t eat a lot of meat.

I'd get something from Cook or similar to bung in the oven. Veggie lasagne and salad?

If not cook, I think I’d get up a load of picnic food and put out a buffet. Bonus easy leftovers for you to pick at.

m&s do sandwich platters but I think they’d need more notice than you’ve got for this weekend.

To make it really easy, ready chopped onions, fry, add frozen peas something else if you can manage it - maybe peppers from a jar I think you can get ready chopped - all in a large frying pan then pour over beaten eggs cook almost through, cover with ready sliced cheese and grill.
Serve with mango chutney and lovely bread.
For afters expensive ice cream with a heated (jar again) compote.
Easy, quick, yum and home cooked kind of frittatta type thing. 🙂

Oven risotto? You can get it all ready in stages then add the hot stock & bring to the boil, then bung it in the oven 30 mins before. Serve with a leafy salad.

Tins of mixed bean salads, drained and heated with tomato pasta sauce, jars are fine, add chilli, coriander just as you serve. Veggie chilli! Serve with grated cheese, sour cream guacamole, wraps or pittas

ive made this loads, no one realises it’s a cheat 😃

https://www.tiktok.com/@mealsandmunchies/video/7384795827153276190?lang=en
I recently made this, super easy and tasted very good (even with basic subs like milk vs cream, Swiss chard vs spinach etc etc)

Bags of pre-washed mixed salad leaves. Make an oil and lemon juice dressing (takes 30 seconds). Toss leaves in it with some small tomatoes and maybe cubes of feta. Have with a pizza or one of those Spanish omelettes from supermarket - just heat gently for couple of minutes in frying pan with tiny bit of oil, to warm through or eat cold, or quiche from supermarket or deli. Strawberries or icecream to follow. They won't expect more than that.

Surely your partner will be sorting this?

You say "we", so presumably you have a husband or partner? He should be preparing the food, not you.

Cross post!

In that situation I wouldn't have dreamed of lifting a finger!

This is the moment for Deliveroo.

How new is newborn? I struggled even making a bowl of porridge in the early days it was so full on. Maybe a decent shop bought quiche, some microwave new potatoes and salad?

Since there’s a few DH comments, just to say DH is working late Friday night and working Saturday morning before they get here
he will shop for the food tomorrow (and make sure I have lunch prepared that I can eat whilst he’s out, he’ll cook dinner Friday when he gets home and make sure the house is clean before they get here - promise he’s not lazy!) but I’m home Saturday and he isn’t so I thought if it’s something I can do I was happy to, might make me feel a bit more normal too!

thank you for brilliant suggestions so far! These might just be some meals i can start making soon anyway for us, so this is really helpful thank you

Order pizza in and salad plus a bought dessert of some description.

Halloumi flatbreads are really easy to pre prepare and delicious! Chop up halloumi, onions, peppers, courgettes and mixed with yoghurt, honey, chilli jam, garlic and ginger to taste. Leave in fridge to marinate and stick in oven in tray for 20 minutes to cook. Serve with flatbreads and some microwave rice!

In these situations, I always go for a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, new potatoes and a large lovely green salad with a homemade dressing. It also works well as you don't have to worry about exactly when to serve it - just cook the potatoes about 20 minutes before you want to sit down give or take (or buy par-baked bread and bake it earlier and it will still be fresh).

Oh, OK! I would get some nice deli food and such if it was me, with salad and then a cake.

Chopped mushrooms and lazy garlic and ready chopped onions. Fry off. Boil pasta. Add crème fraiche to the mushroom mix. When the pasta is ready serve with a bagged salad and fresh tomatoes
Or order in
No one would blame you

Roasted veg chilli. Roast your favourite vegetables and chickpeas with a few spoonfuls of luchitos chipotle paste, when done, tip in a couple of cans of tomatoes and cover and leave on a low heat. Serve with bought nachos/rice/jacket potato/on its own (whatever you can be bothered with).

with a newborn I’d expect your visitors to bring the components of a meal with them and prepare it for you when they arrive.

Jacket potatoes, fish fillets done in the oven. Bags of veg done in the microwave.

Luxurious and tasty.

Roast chicken. Two minutes to put it in the oven and another two to take it out again. DH can carve.

Serve with a bowl of new potatoes and a quick Caesar salad: Romaine lettuce, shop bought croutons, Parmesan shavings and shop bought dressing.

Just put it all on the table family style.

Then put out a lemon tart and some cheese and biscuits for a picky pudding.

Subway do really nice sandwich platters at a really reasonable price.
When family came up to visit after FIL passed, none of us had the energy to make anything so I ordered a couple of subway platters, bought a multipack of crisps and some fairy cakes. It went down really well and we didn't have to do a thing.
Throw the lot on some paper plates and you've just saved yourself washing up as well.