what shall I cook for my fussy eating MIL?

[deaconblue]

outlaws coming for the weekend. am doing roast lamb for Sunday dinner but am out of ideas for Saturday evening. She doesn't eat onions, peppers, leeks, garlic, anything spicy or wheat (except, oddly, cakes, puddings and biscuits which are apparently magically wheat free!!!)
would like to make something that can cook itself in the oven while we put the children to bed. Was thinking casseroles but can't see how I can make one taste nice without onion or garlic. Usually I do salmon fillets, jacket potatoes type food but that's so dull. Ideas please...

is she just fussy or allergic?

I would do whatever and she didn't eat it tough!

Surely you can "hide" the onions and garlic in the casserole?

I do beef casserole without any onions or garlic - but I add mustard powder and Lea&Perrins to liven it up. It's tasty without being spicy IYSWIM.

she says she's allergic but seems to be able to eat stuff when it suits her ie wolfs down cake but "can't" eat pasta or bread. I can't stand the comments though so I try really hard to avoid anything she might comment on. Was considering using celery and maybe giving it some flavour that way.

they can still be tasty without onion or garlic.

I would go with the casserole - and maybe a side serving of garlic bread for those who want it.

And - no - not fair to hide onion - it can upset (physically) some people.

aha lea and perrins what a good idea. Doesn't eat mustard (forgot to add that to the list)

Why don't you cook chicken breasts wrapped in pancetta or parm ham, boiled new potatoes and salad or roast vegetables.

even it is bland (to your taste) - it is only one meal - worth it to not get into an unpleasant situation with MIL

Ah, I switched to mustard to make up for the lack of onions. Mine gets that plus oxo cubes, tomato puree, oregano and the Lea&Perrins. Not bland! I'd put dumplings in, but I guess they are wheat so no go there. Some sort of potatoes would be ok with it though.

Cook what suits you and everyone else. If she is really that fussy she shouldn't expect you to pander to her tastes. You are busy enough as it is. I mean I can understand people not eating offal or having allergies to certain things but not just fussiness. Onions and garlic are basic cooking ingredients Can't she bring/make her own food? Or just eat her cakes and biscuits?
Let her know in advance what you are making and she can decide whether she will eat it or not and what she will have instead.

Hmmm, apple and sausage casserole? I usually make it with leeks, but I've made it before without.

Or baked fish - something like cod or hake, with creamed spinach, sauted potatoes. You can bake hers on its own, and everyone else's with garlic and onion.

I'm guessing a mild curry is out?

Steak and chips?

Red wine or beer would also liven up a casserole...

leeks instead of onions.

Use veg such as cougettes and aubergines since you can't use peppers.

add something like allspice that with give it flavour without heat and whatever herbs you have. Rosemary would be good.

Well, in fairness some people do react badly to onions/garlic/leeks - eg if they have IBS - and a MIL with a dodgy digestive system would not be much fun to have round the house

no wine, very anti-booze. See, she's a delight to cater for isn't she? Breakfast is a nightmare zone as even fresh fruit upsets her tummy apparently. Think I will ahve a go at an onionless casserole adn see how that goes. Then it can cook slowly while we bath the babies.

lol muminscotland. Last time they visited I started a thread about why they felt the need to do smelly poos in my downstairs bathroom rather than their own guest bathroom!!

Just read leeks was a no no too. Tell her to bring a picnic?

My mother has a ton of 'allergies' too, so I know what you mean. She jsut brings some lettuce in a container now and I leave her to it! It is annoying though, when she can manage to down a massive mixed kebab when she feels like it.

throkenholt - I meant if she was just fussy, to hide the onions, not if she was allergic, obviously!

I've got a great recipe for pork joint cooked in a casserole with just apples (altho I do onions as well) the apples cook down into gravy.

Or do a rissoto. Or pasta. Saturday dinner doesn;t have to have meat too.

so what does she eat?

salmon is not boring
use it in a risotto
or poached with some lovely roasted veg

salmon en croute?? with sweet potato mash and peas and gravy, ready rolled puff pastry, make a nice marinade for the salmon with parsley and blackpepper and a vegetable stock cube and let it soak for 30 mins, sear in realy hot pan and then wrap in the pastry, you can do one large one and stick in the oven for 30 mins or so and your are sorted.

baked cod steaks.

put steaks in baking dish
top with chopped tomatoes and black olives
drizzle olive oil
season and sprinkle herbs

bake 20mn and finish under the grill

serve with pre-roasted potatoes and green aspargus topped with shaved parmesan

pastry is made with wheat

yeah - I know that's what you meant. But my FIL can't do onions so we have to make sure they aren't included if they visit.

Onions/leek etc affect me too - but I like the taste too much to care - just make we don't leave the house afterwards

Garlic however seems to have no affect - but not something you can easily hide.

Risotto. Chicken breast with cheese and wrapped in ham with cubed potatoes (roasted) and mushies on side? Medi veg (pass on peppers) - maybe aubergine, courgette, mushies, brocolli, cherry tomms plus loads of toms puree and generous helping herbs chucked in oven - with jacket for her and baguettes for you. Ummm sausages and mash?