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'm with Storming Norman.

Roast chicken - just bung it in with salt and pepper. Some herbs and butter if you want to push the boat out.

Mini potatoes - bung in for half an hour while chicken is resting.

Salad of lettuce and cucumber.

Tomatoes.

Serve

Individual Farley's Rusk pizzas,
followed by
Farley's Rusk gateau with Geber apricot filling.
Mmmm...I can hear them now. 😋

A roll of Just roll, ready roll puff. Score boarder, top with caramelised onion chutney, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, season and bake. Serve with a green salad and coleslaw.
Or a few French sticks, a few good cheeses, punnet of grapes, celery, a couple of chutneys, olives, nuts crisps.

Homemade pesto with pasta and a tomato and mozarella salad.

No cooking required for the pesto..just whizz ingredients in a blender for a couple of minutes and it tastes amazing.

Fuck that. Get some stuff from m and s. Job done. I tried to be a hero and host Christmas with 4 w/o prem twins. Daft.

This is why M&S exists . Congrats on your baby

Defo this👆 lots of lovely deli things, crisps and dips, nice part baked bread that you can just pop in oven💐

https://food-to-order.sainsburys.co.uk/category/allfood?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=20794544793&gaddsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAACbCNnZFqrsT5tX0JKey-lG53ZDu&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6azmoNH3hwMVnZpQBh16zzxsEAAYASAAEgJDdvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sainsburys food to order. Click on what you want and collect the day your guests come. Then zero cooking or prep.

Make a call to a good catering company near you .

Baked potatoes, chilli, cheese or tuna mayo, sorted!

Take away 100%

M&S or similar - quiches , bagged salad, other nice salad bits, some sort of cake or pudding...
I had an unputdownable baby and I seriously wouldn't have considered cooking anything beyond maybe shoving something (from M&S or similar) in the oven.

They're coming to see you and the baby, the more rested you are the nicer the visit will be.

Not food and deffo off topic but I would highly recommend a wrap sling if your baby doesn't like being put down We barely used a pushchair as I baby wore until she was about 3. A woven, not stretchy, sling will do you all the way from newborn to walking.
then you can pop her in your sling and happily get on with what you want with both hands free. And baby is happy next to mummy's heart safe and secure. Mine is now 14 so it's been a while but this is a great YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@OschaSlingsOfficial

Yeah I’d do an order for sandwiches, sausage rolls, and a tray of cookies etc to the local bakery. Have a couple of bowls of crisps and just leave people to help themselves. They’re not going to expect a hot meal.

Get Pret to delivery a tray of sandwiches

Honestly - don't be silly.

If these people want to visit you when you have a newborn, they'd better darn well bring food to you.

If they don't, I'd be embarrassed for them.

Yes to this.

Most suckling pig recipes could probably be easily adapted.

Something from Cook & green salad

Marks and Spencer do a bolognaise pasta bake thing in a tray for 2/3 people. Costs about £5.50. Buy a few. Decant into your own oven dish. Takes 30 mins in the oven. Serve with garlic bread. It’s one of the few ready meals I will eat. It’s really very tasty.

A mother of a newborn should not be catering for guests! They bring the food to you!

Maybe a mild vegetable chilli with lots of different beans x veg in? Rice, flat breads, garlic bread, coleslaw, salad.....

Pasta bake, bags of salad & garlic bread. Quick and easy and a crowd pleaser 😊

You shouldn't be cooking at all. They need to bring the food. Or get a takeaway