Trying to impress the inlaws for dinner?

Question

Hello all, my mission this weekend is to impress my inlaws that are coming over to my husband and I's new house for the first time to have dinner- I have never cooked for them and I really want to impress them- My husbands father cooks constantly and I know hes going to be a tough critique- Please help with any ideas- recipes?

Answer 1

here is a awesome chicken recipe! I made it and me and my husband almost died when we tried it it was so good!!!! They will think you're a professional chef! serve it with mashed potatoes, nice green salad, fresh French bread and butter

Spinich Stuffed Chicken Breasts

INGREDIENTS
1 (10 ounce) package fresh spinach leaves
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded pepperjack cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 pinch ground black pepper
8 slices bacon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place spinach in a large glass bowl, and heat in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring every minute or so, or until wilted. Stir in sour cream, pepperjack cheese, and garlic.
Lay the chicken breasts out on a clean surface, and spoon some of the spinach mixture onto each one. Roll up chicken to enclose the spinach, then wrap each chicken breast with two slices of bacon. Secure with toothpicks, and arrange in a shallow baking dish.
Bake uncovered for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, then increase heat to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C), or use the oven's broiler to cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to brown the bacon.

Answer 2

Since your FIL cooks all the time, invite him to help - as in a "cooking lesson."

OK so you're probably a pretty good cook but the idea is not to show off but to impress them/him. What better way than to ask him for help.

Indeed call them NOW to ask him - and what their favorite main dish would be - recipes, and what ingredients you should buy etc. etc.

Answer 3

Keep it simple and classic. Fish is a pretty safe bet.

Buy a large Atlantic salmon fillet or steak, fresh, for each person. Rub it with olive oil. Wrap it in foil or parchment with slices of lemon and sprigs of fresh dill. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Bake a potato for each person. Just scrub, salt, and bake in the oven for an hour. If you're lazy, microwave it for 2 minutes, then crisp it up in the oven for 15 minutes. Or, serve white rice.

Quickly boil some asparagus or broccoli, pan-fry some zucchini, or glaze some boiled carrots with honey and butter for a side dish.

Desserts are fairly easy - make a cake, buy a cake, or creme brulees, or similar. Serve with a nice bottle of Riesling or other white wine you like.

Answer 4

I would start by picking ingredients that like. Then, I would stick to simple recipes and concentrate on making it great and presenting it great!

Lay out your table really nice!...that will make a great impression!

Maybe make a roast of whole chicken...you can buy beef and chicken seasoning. Just make sure it's not uncooked or overcooked...that's the most important; I suggest get a meat thermometer.

As for sides, stick with something easy but good...rice, pasta, veggies with butter, parmesan, and parsely for example.

Garnishing and presentation will get you a lot "impression" points!

Answer 5

Make your BEST dish the one you know upside down and backwards and can make with your eyes closed.
Even if it is only the simplest of meals.........how it is prepared and seasoned is what counts.........not how darn long the ingredient list is.
My best advice is keep it simple, simple.........try and do a meal that most things are already set to go in advance of your meal. That way you can have the most relaxing time possible with "in laws" lolol I'm just kidding I had a great relationship with my mother in law when she was still with us...but we all like mil jokes lol.
Don't stress yourself out.........you will do more to "impress" the in laws by simply having and keeping things under control and looking like you are a most relaxed hostess.
You have the rest of your life to impress them lol just enjoy and stop worrying about what they think.

Answer 6

As a Mother-in-law, the easiest way to impress me, is to cook something my son loves. As long as your kitchen is clean (along with the rest of the house), and the food tastes good I'll be impressed. She isn't married to me and doesn't have to impress me,,all I need to know is that she truly loves my son and takes care of him. That's what's impressive.

But if you insist on still trying to impress me,,ask for advice on how to do things (like cooking a steak), being willing to ask and to try to please the in-laws along with making us feel welcome as family and not as guests is a biggie. Good Luck. And remember that sometimes...Less is more...And in-laws also have/had in-laws as well...