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Original poster

Food for a crowd

17 replies

PrawnToast5 · 11/05/2022 22:54

We are going away for DHs birthday for a week with both sets of in laws at his request.

How would you do family meals (mostly dinner)? I'm suggesting that DH and I think of a list of a few easy meals for a crowd and we all pitch in helping to make them throughout the week. If they don't like the meal offered, they are free to arrange something of their own choosing.

Is this okay? What are the alternatives? Our families can be picky eaters but will (i think) be happy to arrange their own if needed - however it could be realistic to create a menu that pleases all of them some of the time so I think that's the best way to do it!

What meals would you suggest anyway?

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 11/05/2022 23:03

I wouldn't take it upon yourself to be involved in every meal.
I went away with a large group of friends and their children some years ago, and what worked was having each couple responsible for 2 meals..eg breakfast on Day 1, dinner on Day 2. Everyone knew in advance that they would be cooking and preparing those meals for everyone and were asked to provide a list of ingredients in advance. A big shopping delivery was then ordered, with everyone chipping in an agreed percentage of the total budget. It worked really well, every knew their schedule and what they planned to cook, and it meant no one was under undue pressure. Being specific was vital, I think if you just hope for everyone to "pitch in" you will have problems, either too many people or too few in the kitchen. As ever, it's about managing expectations, making it clear in advance, and not giving people the option not to get involved in either the cooking or the organising.

Chelsea26 · 11/05/2022 23:05

We take turns to cook when we do this, one couple a night. My older brother does bacon and sausage rolls in the mornings and doesn’t do a dinner…

chicken curry with rice and naan
chilli with rice
fajitas (chicken, steak or veggie)
lasagne/cottage pie
gammon, egg and chips

Have a lovely time!

Kite22 · 11/05/2022 23:33

If it were a holiday, I wouldn't be planning elaborate meals.
We'd be going to a pub one night, getting fish and chips another. (depending on budget, most likely trying other pubs on a couple of other nights, or a takeaway).

Nights we ate in, would be things than only need bunging in the oven, like pizza or something like kievs or breaded fish and some oven chips. Or some pasta and a ready made sauce or pesto. Or maybe jacket potatoes or something.

Original poster
PrawnToast5 · 11/05/2022 23:33

I don't think I've explained it very well. I'm not going to get involved in every meal, it would be agreed who cooks each night on an ad hoc basis. However, because of wildly differing preferences in the family (vegetarians, carnivores, slimming world, general pickyness) I think I'm going to need to at least guide what would be served each night to avoid cooking 3 or 4 meals every day.

OP posts:
Original poster
PrawnToast5 · 11/05/2022 23:34

Kite22 · 11/05/2022 23:33

If it were a holiday, I wouldn't be planning elaborate meals.
We'd be going to a pub one night, getting fish and chips another. (depending on budget, most likely trying other pubs on a couple of other nights, or a takeaway).

Nights we ate in, would be things than only need bunging in the oven, like pizza or something like kievs or breaded fish and some oven chips. Or some pasta and a ready made sauce or pesto. Or maybe jacket potatoes or something.

But if that kind of food excludes 1 person all week is it fair? MIL is a slimming world fanatic and wouldn't eat any of that.

OP posts:
Kite22 · 11/05/2022 23:47

If one person chooses to restrict what they eat, I would ask is it then fair to expect the other 5 to, to be honest.

I think I'm going to need to at least guide what would be served each night to avoid cooking 3 or 4 meals every day.
doesn't really tie in with
I don't think I've explained it very well. I'm not going to get involved in every meal, it would be agreed who cooks each night on an ad hoc basis.
or the fact you said in your op that If they don't like the meal offered, they are free to arrange something of their own choosing. and but will (i think) be happy to arrange their own if needed

I just think that a holiday ought to be relaxing,
Not stressing about planning a menu before you even go.

Also depends on your budget - presumably if you eat out, the SW fan will be able to choose salads or whatever suits them? That way everyone gets what they consider a nice meal, without anyone having to run some sort of a cafe menu when you are supposed to be on holiday. Of course if you are on a very tight budget that is more difficult.

Original poster
PrawnToast5 · 11/05/2022 23:58

Yeah the issue is lots of them restrict what they eat. One is mainly vegetarian, one will eat only very plain food, one will only eat dinners with meat in eg...

OP posts:
roastedsaltedpeanut · 12/05/2022 00:00

I have one meal that satisfies all. Dieters, gluten free, nut free, veggie version and meat version.
it’s my take on the Vietnamese chicken rice

ingredients
rice
oil, ideally sesame oil but avoid if allergic. 2tbsp.
garlic minced
chicken (use breasts for health conscious. Legs for flavour)
bay leave
white wine to glaze

poach chicken with bay leaf and a touch of salt. Remove and wrap to keep warm. Keep the stock.

mince garlic.

prepare two pans, one for veggie. Do the same in both

add oil, lightly fry rice with salt and pepper (add cumin/turmeric/oregano/any spices you like) till toasted golden colour,

add garlic till fragrant. deglaze with white wine
add chicken stock in one and veggie stock in another.
cook on low heat till stock is fully absorbed.
place chicken on top of the rice.
steam veggie for the vegetarian and everyone else.
Very little oil is used. If carbs is an issue just have the chicken and veggie.

wine is optional

vegetarian meat works well as replacement for chicken.
Make a salad if you can be bothered.

5zeds · 12/05/2022 00:08

The trick is the side dishes and extras on offer. In our family there is always salad/bread/cheese/hummus/eggs on offer for those that can’t face the main meal. If you scatter it round the table nobody has to fuss if their plates contain different things.

BarbaraofSeville · 12/05/2022 06:51

Surely MIL can relax a little with her eating during a family holiday away to celebrate her DS birthday?

I'd go for food served family style around a theme, so people can choose what they like.

Eg do a roast, provide a protein alternative of choice to the vegetarians and everyone picks from meat, veg, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings due to preference.

Likewise curry night. Do a chicken curry, a chick pea one and bread, rice, salad and dips and people take what they want.

Pizza and salad, sides etc. Either get them delivered or buy a selection and share them.

Mezze spread - marinated chicken, Greek salad, halloumi, ready made hummus, falafels, pittas and salad.

Order in from one of those takeaways that sells lots of different types of food (pizza, burgers, kebabs etc).

Anyone not happy with any of that can make themselves an omelette or beans on toast.

Original poster
PrawnToast5 · 12/05/2022 15:04

BarbaraofSeville · 12/05/2022 06:51

Surely MIL can relax a little with her eating during a family holiday away to celebrate her DS birthday?

I'd go for food served family style around a theme, so people can choose what they like.

Eg do a roast, provide a protein alternative of choice to the vegetarians and everyone picks from meat, veg, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings due to preference.

Likewise curry night. Do a chicken curry, a chick pea one and bread, rice, salad and dips and people take what they want.

Pizza and salad, sides etc. Either get them delivered or buy a selection and share them.

Mezze spread - marinated chicken, Greek salad, halloumi, ready made hummus, falafels, pittas and salad.

Order in from one of those takeaways that sells lots of different types of food (pizza, burgers, kebabs etc).

Anyone not happy with any of that can make themselves an omelette or beans on toast.

Perfect, thanks! I am sure MIL will relax a bit

OP posts:
Kite22 · 12/05/2022 23:44

Eg do a roast, provide a protein alternative of choice to the vegetarians and everyone picks from meat, veg, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings due to preference.
Likewise curry night. Do a chicken curry, a chick pea one and bread, rice, salad and dips and people take what they want.

But if the Op is away on a week's holiday, surely she wants to be out sight seeing, or visiting museums, or climbing up mountains or paddling in the sea, or quite frankly just relaxing with a book, not planning and preparing complicated meals day after day? I know I wouldn't be doing that on what is supposed to be my holiday, to celebrate my dh's birthday.

How about each adult agrees to prepare one meal across the week, and anyone who won't eat that meal sorts themselves an alternative ?

BarbaraofSeville · 13/05/2022 06:37

Fair enough, obviously everyone in the group will take a turn at food preparation/cooking, but you do need some co-ordination with the shopping and menu choice and most of what I suggested isn't really 'complicated' with a good amount of pre-prepared food, takeaways or stuff that can be just put in the oven etc.

tootiredtobother · 14/05/2022 19:13

good grief that set up sounds complicated my first thought was how well equipped will the kitchen be ?

Original poster
PrawnToast5 · 15/05/2022 06:57

tootiredtobother · 14/05/2022 19:13

good grief that set up sounds complicated my first thought was how well equipped will the kitchen be ?

Yeah it's fine

OP posts:
MerryMaidens · 22/05/2022 18:51

Absolutely one evening per couple. We work it like that and try and take into account e.g. vegetarians (so do 2 smaller lasagne, one veg and one meat, or same with curry), ditto allergies. Just being a bit fussy doesn't get a look in though- if they want to cook something very boring on their night they are free to, otherwise there is toast. And no moaning! One of DHs sisters always does a beige buffet which is sort of hideous but also what they like so we all have to put up with it.

Otherwise you have to be thinking about it all the time which isn't relaxing. Plenty of fruit and snacks, happy days.

MerryMaidens · 22/05/2022 18:52

(We have a shared Google doc which everyone fills in with meals on one tab and shopping list on the other).

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