playdate suppers

[plus3]

What are your standard failsafe suppers for playdates?

We had sausage & mash this evening, and DS hates spag bol. (or any type of mince dish)and for some reason I think pasta & sauce is a cop out (although don't know why, maybe because it's my 'can't be bothered' supper to do )

All ideas greatly received!

Sausage and mash with Yorkshrie pudding
Homemade burgers and wedges
Pasta with a veggie or bolognaise sauce
Fishfingers
Chicken or fishfinger strips
Jacket potatoes and topping
Cold rainbow platter: big platter of veggie strips and salad bits, cold meat, cheese, pitta or bread, olives, crisps, etc and then a big pot of hummous for dipping.
Fajitas - in lots of serving dishes to make up themselves
Non spicy chilli with crusty bread and cheese
Roast meat and veg
Meat casserole

etc.

Have done all the fancier homemade stuff many many times. I have learnt to go for the easy option as many don't eat half of it anyway. Some are fussy, some too busy playing to eat.

If I have a play date who I know eats well I do other stuff. For example DD and her best friend love to share a big bowl of mussels and crusty bread so I will do that for them, but wouldn't for other children.

it feeld like a minefield...I don't want to give them something that they won't eat. Pasta with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and broccoli is one my DC favourites and it's quick to make.Ok for a playdate?

course that's feels...

I nearly always do grilled salmon and mash.

Or fish fingers - failsafe.

supper

tea you mean!

sallmon
fekcin ponce
sausage anc chips every time

I probably wouldn't do the smoked salmon one withou checking with the other parent as isn't the ordinary "nursery" fayre IYSWIM. My DD would love it, however several children I know wouldn't.

You could do the pasta separate and have sauce in a bowl for children to add as much or little as they like. Maybe have some grated cheese along side it or a bowl of tomato based sauce too.

I wouldn't do pasta with smoked salmon, personally. Then again, I don't like smoked salmon. It's too expensive to waste on potentially ungrateful children!

My girls are too old for 'play dates' now (sorry but I hate that phrase) but I used to do things like:

pasta and a choice of pesto, tomato sauce, or grated cheese with a plate of cucumber, carrot sticks, cherry toms etc;

baked potatoes with 'pickies' - grated cheese, sweetcorn, salad etc;

a picky meal, as Hula describes with her 'platter';

qaesadillas with homemade wedges, salady bits etc;

veggie hotdogs, homemade wedges, baked beans (though my girls would never eat them), crudites etc.

see I knew it was a minefield.. my DC love the salmon and that meal only takes 12mins to cook. Was only opting out of sausages cos that what I always do (failsafe and all..)and because DC had them this evening.

Will probably do pasta with tomato and mozzarella sauce.

keep it simpler (mine would be horrified if confronted with smoked salmon)

maybe pasta and give the option of plain pasta or plus cheese/pesto/broccoli

fruit and yoghurt for pudding

I'd speak to the mum and get any major dislikes and food issues registered too

Why not ask the mother of the visiting child what they will eat? I usually do homemade pizza (do the dough in the breadmaker) which has always gone down well. The kids can choose their toppings, then serve with cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper. Or sausages, or pasta.

do not be offended if they don't eat what you serve up.
and have bread available.

Sausage + chips

Ice cream

With broccoli/corn on the cob as an optional side dish.

And lashings and lashings of tomato sauce
Or Mayo for Dd who mixes up her own special chip pink sauce.

Works for everyone.

Serve pasta and sauce in different bowls so they can decide if they want it or not.

pizza with assorted:
plain cooked vegetables and/or
fruit and/or
crudites

icecream
Cauliflower cheese is a big mistake.

alright I get the message about the salmon. Maybe the pizza...I did speak to the mum, apparently the only thing he won't eat is carrots..

and bugger to cauliflower cheese..I did consider it!

Sod it. I'll just do fishfingers and chips.
Can I make the fishfingers though?

fishfingers, chips and sliced cucumber and carrot sticks.

Failsafe? Fish fingers and smiley faces with sweetcorn.

My dd1 would look at you like you had tried to poison her if you served her salmon and my niece would probably cry. Dd2 would be overjoyed. All three of them love fish fingers.

what the fuck are smiley faces?

Pizza and garlic bread - i always buy ready made, but obviously lovely if you can be bothered to let them do their own. I always have a selection of veggie/meat ones and usually serve with a selection of veg batons and dips and maybe baby jacket potatoes and green salad as well.