My in-laws are coming for a visit this labor day weekend and I want to make a good impression, We have only?

Question

been married three months.......I'll take any ideas on meals to make,, things to do,,, we have four grandkids they are visiting (three theirs one is mine but they are great enough to include her))... Help from inlaws who can say what they would like to have when they visit their new daughter in law and grandchildren would be wonderful.... I want to make this a great experience for them and my family?? Thanks

Answer 1

Well...just the fact that you WANT it to be wonderful will make it be wonderful. I don't think you should make anything fancy...just make meals that you are comfortable making. A picnic in the park or a back yard bar-b-que would be good.
I think the most important thing to them is that their son and grand children are happy...not how good you can cook.

Answer 2

First of all, plan simple meals so you can join the fun. We're having a get-together this weekend, also, and I am serving rum chicken (easy in the oven or on the grill) and Spanish rice salad. (serve it right off the stove or room temp). Gp to www.foodnetwork.com for rum chicken recipe. For the little kids who don't like grownup foods, I have buns and Hunt's Sloppy Joes (In a tub in the meat section of your grocer) plus chips. Dessert is ice cream cones. Drinks are premixed tea with fruit in it. Get premixed tea at your grocer and pour into a pitcher over frozen fruit. Easy stuff. Nothing made from "scratch" I use Minute rice, canned salsa, etc, etc.

Can you spend any money? If you can, how about a cheap Slip and Slide for the kids? Every kid loves getting wet in the back yard. How about lawn bowling or horseshoes. And for goodness sake, turn off the tv while they are there. You don't say how old the kids are. If they would rather retreat into their Gameboys, let them. It will keep the noise level down, and no one will have to listen to them sigh deeply because they are bored.

What would I want if I was the one visiting? Well, I would want to spend time talking to my hostess, not watching her obsess over the menu (see first paragraph). I would like for my hostess to tell me "if you want something, help yourself", mean it, and then show me (once) where things are. After that, I would like to fend for myself without her jumping up saying "i'll get that for you". That makes me feel like a stranger, or an old bag who can't do for herself, or that I might make too big a mess if I do it myself. And, lastly, I would like a little "alone" time, when I don't have to talk to anyone or listen to anyone or answer anyone....just a few minutes will do.

Hope this helps you. Just remember, they are coming to see you and your family. Relax and enjoy. They are not coming to judge you.

Answer 3

Assuming grandchildren are young....fun activities (bubbles, balls, kite to fly). You like the children to have things to do & not be bored, knowing their ages is important? If you want fast meals (and still good) but that don't take a lot of prep ~ sloppy joes in crockpot, corn on the cob (kids can shuck), pasta salad (some are very simple, still good and don't have to worry about being in the sun like you do mac salad). Every picnic needs a watermelon.... A little appetizer/finger food that I make that everybody loves and keeps requesting that I bring....I get thos packages of little cocktail weiners - throw them in crockpot or stovetop saucepan - and put on low heat. A quick salad to make ~ cukes, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, salt & pepper - people are surprised how good and refreshing this is! Good luck...enjoy....have fun. Good company is the best ingredient, don't over-worry. Have fun!!

Answer 4

for the first nite ask your hubby what is their favorite meal and then maybe prepare it for them. if they arent too tired take them on a family outing if it isnt too hot take them with u to the park, or maybe bowling or something all of u can do. the next day do a girl day, u mil and maybe your daughter and hubby's daughter while the boys do a boy day. hit the mall, go watch a movie or do something fun that u would do with a girlfriend and let her enjoy it too. sunday is family day go to church, and maybe plan a nice restaurant dinner somewhere, and monday a cook out with your inlaws and your parents and enjoy them dont stress and have a good visit and take care...

Answer 5

Cook them a real good dinner every night and nice breakfast. If you can prepare a good meal this will be a nice way to empress your in-laws. Have your husband barbecue some good steaks, be sure to marinate the steaks 2-4 hours before and make good desserts. Serve good red wine from Napa Valley. In the evening before dinner a good wine and snaks will be excellent starter, this should be a good time to just have a nice conversation and for you to find if they are in you favor. If you really wants to impress them go to church on Sunday with them and after church go to breakfast.

Answer 6

I LOVE this and my picky husband does too.

Cheesy Vegetable Pasta

1/2 pound dry ziti or penne
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
2 medium eggplants, halved lengthwise
1/2 large yellow onion, quartered
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 cup pasta sauce
3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled Feta
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, whisk together the vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small bowl. Place the zucchini, eggplants, and onion on a baking sheet. Brush with the vinaigrette. Heat broiler on high. Broil until tender, 8 minutes per side.

Heat oven to 350° F. Chop the roasted vegetables. Place a large pot over low heat. Add the garlic and the remaining oil and cook for 3 minutes. Add the drained pasta, vegetables, oregano, tomatoes, pasta sauce, Feta, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and the remaining salt and toss. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the mozzarella. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 minutes more.

To Freeze: Assemble (but do not bake) the casserole. Cover tightly with two layers of aluminum foil. Store for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or thaw partially in the microwave. Cover and heat in a 350° F oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and heat for 10 minutes more.

Tip: To make individual servings, freeze the pasta in ramekins or small ovenproof bowls. Cover and heat for 20 minutes, then uncover and heat for 10 minutes more.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 670(43% from fat); FAT 32g (sat 6g); SUGAR 18g; PROTEIN 30g; CHOLESTEROL 49mg; SODIUM 998mg; FIBER 13g; CARBOHYDRATE 73g

Real Simple, MAY 2006

**Instead of pasta sauce I put tomato sauce from Little Ceasar's. I LOVE that sauce. I use more oil than they tell you to & I add mushrooms sometimes. I also didn't broil the vegetables I put the oven on 350 & cooked them for 8 minutes on each side.

I'm going to make this tonight. The last time I put a yellow pepper in & fool that I am I didn't taste it. I assumed it was a mild sweet pepper it was hot as the sun!!!!! I had to drink milk in between bites. I think it jump started my system. I won't make that mistake again! This is the first recipe I've used feta cheese I really, really like it. This dish looks so fancy but it's super easy and fun to make-much better than hot dogs.

Answer 7

My in-laws are coming to visit us too...yay. I can only pray that things go smoothly. You know what they say about in-laws...

I'm planning on getting a white sheet or a poster board and making a "welcome" sign. I'm going to buy finger paints and let the kids put their handprints on it and decorate it. Or maybe you can even find a really nice picture of your family and put it in a pretty frame for them to take home.
Also, any crafts the kids can make for them... ornaments with a picture made out of popsicle sticks, etc.
Good luck!

Answer 8

I made Onion Roasted Potatoes for my Almost M-I-L. She loved them. Best part is, I was asked to bring it to all their family gatherings. It's easy too.. Take one of those Onion Mix Packets, mix it with about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of vegetable oil. Cut potatos into chunks and bake it at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes! Kids love it with ketchup!

Answer 9

I'd say to just relax and have fun. For meals, do hot dogs and hamburgers. Sloppy Joes. BBQ. Chips, dips, pop, water, Kool Aid, etc. Kids LOVE that stuff.

Answer 10

Be yourself, they will appreciate you more. Be helpful and be a great host. Your husband knows what they like, and what they don't. Get with him to figure out places in your local town to check out. As for meals, cook yours and your husbands favorite meals and share the taste with them. Its a way of inviting them in your heart just like you did for they're son. Everything will go great - They will fall in love with you.