Menu ideas?

Question

My fantastic daughter, my adorable son in law and our 2 precious grandsons, 8 & 7 years old, are going to be here for a week and half with us and I am lost, for the first time, in coming up with menu ideas. I know during this time we will be having turkey and ham but beyond that need some suggestions. Usually do not have any problems with this but have had health issues and just can't seem to come up with some ideas to include the boys. Please give me some menu ideas. I want to be able to concentrate on having fun and keeping my attention on all of them without having to be tied to the kitchen while they are here. Maybe some quick menus or even ones that can be prepared ahead and quickly finished up for the meal might be nice. Also some breakfast ideas would be helpful also. Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Answer 1

Don't be afraid of having separate menus for the kids and adults if there are health issues - they like it when you tell them you made something just for them. Make a couple of things ahead and then take them shopping with you ! Get at least one box of sugary unhealthy cereal that they probably don't get at home. Have some granola bars, pudding cups, yogurt, fruit cups and cheese strings on hand for snacks. Maybe get some muffin or cookie mixes and have them help you bake them - fun for everyone.

A few suggestions:

Spaghetti or Lasagna
Meatloaf or Shepherds Pie
Tacos or Sloppy Joes
Eggs and pancakes are great at lunch too
Mac and Cheese (to go with the leftover ham)
Turkey Pot Pie and/or Turkey Soup
Hot Dogs and Burgers
Pot Roast for sure !!

Happy Visiting !!

Answer 2

Boys always love mashed potatoes & since your already making ham, use the ham drippings for ham gravy (the best gravy in the world). However, if you are putting cloves and the like on the ham , the gravy will taste strange. Also, something easy to make is what my family calls "Funeral Bean's" or better known as Green Bean Casserole. We called them funeral beans as kids because whenever a family member died, someone always brought Green Bean Casserole to the grieving family. Anyhow, if you're not familiar with the recipe, it's green beans, mixed with 1 can of campbells cream of mushroom soup - bake at 350 for 30 minutes, then sprinkle the top with a can French's fried onions - and bake for another 10 or so minutes until the top is brown. Very simple and very kid friendly.

Answer 3

Crockpot meals are great. Pot roast...you can even get one of the pre-made ones (by banquet I think), but if you do, I recommend adding more meat. Chicken n Dumplins is quick and easy as well. Most recipes call for a whole chicken...I use boneless skinless chicken breasts...cook then tear up in to pieces after it has cooled. Then I personally get fresh water, add chicken broth, and seasoning...bring to a boil. Then get some bisquets (the ones that pop open...like pillsbury) and tear each bisquet into 4ths. Once the water is boiling, add the bisquets and cover...wait just a few minutes then with a wooden spoon, spin the dumplins around to beat the air out of them. You can also add parsley to make it look yummy.

A good breakfast we like is to cook a package of sausage, like it is hamburger meat. Then scramble som eggs and cook them. When the eggs are almost done, add the sausage and mix it all up. You can put this in a tortilla with cheese, salsa, etc or you can get a loaf of pop bread (like pillsbury french loaf or itallian bread) and unroll it to be almost flat. Then add the mixture and some cheese into it and roll it back up. Bake it at whatever the bread package says. We call it our breakfast sausage loaf.

Answer 4

not to worry.

here are some simple ideas to follow.

Breakfast you can make pancakes ahead of time and freeze them. Jsut pull them out and put in microwave.
Waffles are also easy to purchase and kids love them.

Quiche can be made ahead of time also.

Here is what to do.

ingredients

bacon, shedded cheese onions, eggs, milk, frozen pie shells
this will make two pie shells.

Chop bacon in small pieces and fry in large frying pan. Chop onions and add to bacon when bacon is starting to brown.

Cook until onions are soft.

Pour the bacon and onion mixture into the pie shells.
add two cups of shredded cheese to pie shell.

freeze.

Pull out two days before you are going to use them

In a bowl crack 10 eggs and 2 cups of milk.
pinch of pepper
mix well
this can be done the nioght before. great for breakfast or lunch.


pour into shells and bake 350 degress for 3- 40 minutes.

add ham, or chicken and now you ahev a dinner idea.

bake on a tray so you don't get a mess in the oven

For dinner

Make meat sauce or spaghetti sauce ahead.

Also soups and chillis can be a great meal . Serve with chopped onions and shredded cheese and buns, use large round loafs of bread as bowls.

Don't forget kids love sandwiches , kraft macaroni and cheese

salads
you can buy pre cut salads etc.

Get the men cooking steaks, baked potatoes etc.

Ice cream sundaes are a great grandma treat that even the parents will love.

Chef Robert, author of chef robert presents romantic dinners for two the cookbook and instructional DVD
www.romanticdinnersfortwo.com
And go out for dinner.

Answer 5

Use the crock pot. Dump meals are easy, good and usually fairly inexpensive.

*Stew
*Chili
*BBQ Ribs
*Roast with potatoes and carrots

You can also do lasagna, spaghetti, or goulash. Most kids like that and it is pretty simple.

For breakfast make sure you have a couple selections of cereal. Kids like Kixs, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, etc. Also go with some french toast, pancakes, or waffles.

Answer 6

Make a lasagne and freeze it.
Chicken casserole can be frozen:
Grill chicken
sautee, veggies that you like
cook ziti
Add them together with Golden Mushroom soup, chicken stock, and cheddar cheese
When you're ready, thaw and bake at 350 until hot all the way through.

Crock pot meals- pot roast, stew

Here's a great website for plan ahead meals.
http://www.recipelink.com/rcpmenus.html

Answer 7

Thank God for leftovers! Here are some ideas:

Breakfast: hot oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate
bacon, scrambled eggs, toast
breakfast casserole, croissants
cream of wheat, cinnamon toast, hot cocoa
scrambled eggs and bacon rollups

Lunch: hot turkey sandwiches
pasta salad with chopped veges
grilled ham and cheese with tomato soup
Turkey and cheese rollups
Turkey soup with hot rolls

Dinner: Leftovers for 2 nights
Spaghetti with meatballs
Swiss steak with veges and mashed potatos
Meatloaf with mac and cheese and fresh green
beans
Pizza, green salad

Answer 8

Ok, you can never go wrong with hot dogs and hamburgers for the boys. Chicken fingers. Macaroni and Cheese. Grilled cheese sandwhiches. Eggs. Mashed potatoes and gravy. French Fries. You know typical boy stuff. Cereal.

Answer 9

make one of those smoked sausages or Kielbasa with egg noodles. one night also try making something in the crock pot you don't have to watch it so closely. for breakfast make some breafast burritos with diced ham scrambled eggs & cheese in a tortilla.

Answer 10

Breakfast- cereal- $5.00
lunch - sandwhiches - $6.00
dinner- pizza - $20.00

one day with no cooking and spending time with grandkids and everyone loves it --Priceless