What to make for picky family?

[Danielle]

My mother-in-law has been "hinting" that my husband and I should invite them over for dinner sometime soon. We've decided to have them over Sunday night, so I'm trying to figure out what to serve them for dinner. Not an easy task, because they're pretty picky eaters. Here's the challenge I face:

--My husband does not care for ground beef. Beyond that, he's willing to try anything, so that's not the problem.
--My father-in-law is an extremely picky eater. He basically only eats red meat and chicken, with the occasional pork chop thrown in here and there. And he doesn't like fancy sauces or exotic seasonings -- they seem to fluster him. The foundation of the family meals have been built on Shake N' Bake. His idea of chop suey is ground beef mixed with cream of mushroom soup and rice, with maybe a few chow mein noodles on top.
--My mother-in-law may be a bit more adventureous, but she too is not into anything out of the ordinary. She's basically a meat and potatoes person herself. If anything looks "different" to her she makes a big production of sniffing it and prodding it on her plate before she even takes a bite.
--My sister-in-law (teenager) is the most challenging. She does not eat meat, except ham (which I don't like at all). She'll grudgingly eat chicken on rare occassions. She doesn't like red sauce, like spaghetti sauce. She hates ground beef. She can't have anything spicy like sausage (she has acid reflux). I had originally entertained the idea of making this delicious lasagna recipe I have that calls for sausage, three cheeses, and spinach, but before I had even ruled out the spicy factor my husband said, "That dish will scare them." And if I tried to serve them a dish with no meat, they'd have a fit (except my SIL).

And no one likes fish.

So that leaves me thinking that maybe I should make a pork roast. Even though I made one this week already for us, I suppose I could make it again. Or maybe the Chicken Fricasse with Orzo, since it has ham in it? Or would the orzo freak his family out too much? Augh! Has anyone else had to make a dinner for a picky crowd? How do you keep your sanity?

[LIsaP]

What a challenge!

How about making pasta and make 2 sauces to go with it-one with meat to please the inlaws and one without meat to please the sister in law.

You could serve it with a big salad and garlic bread-simple, ordinary and everybody should be pleased...

Good Luck!

[lorilei]

How about making soup?

I know this sounds a bit ordinary at first glance, but it could be a very impressive meal.

How about a pot of homeade potato soup? I often make a lovely smokey soup with ham during the fall, and I've served it to guests with great success. I always serve the soup with salad as a starter. Then, I spend some time at the bakery to find just the right crusty european bread to serve on the side. I usually serve the bread with a nice presentation of cheese and fresh vegetables. Very down-home, but delicious and filling. (an added bonus - everyone should be able to eat it, including the pickiest eater)

Then you could spend your time concocting something delicious for dessert. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 10-05-2000).]

[RunnerKim]

Maybe more casual than you're looking for - but what about make-your-own pizzas. Perhaps calzones or stromboli would be more "Dinner" appropriate. Or how about the other extreme - fondue. You could do a oil/meat one and a cheese one.

Or maybe shish-ka-bobs - some could be veggie only for your SIL and others could have beef on them. Serve with rice and a green salad...

Kim

[sneezles]

The things we do for love!!
Have to say your descriptions of you in-laws had me in stitches!!
How about CL's Oven-fried Chicken, Creamy Four Cheese Macaroni, Buttermilk Biscuits and a green salad...kind of a end-of-summer picnic type meal with apple pie for dessert?

[Danielle]

Thanks for all your replies so far! Great ideas. I'll definitely be able to find something from all these wonderful suggestions.

And thanks for feeling my pain! I feel a bit of pressure since my husband tells his mother that I'm a good cook, so I feel like I'm being put to the test. Ah, the joys of being married...

[lorilei]

Originally posted by Danielle:
And thanks for feeling my pain! I feel a bit of pressure since my husband tells his mother that I'm a good cook, so I feel like I'm being put to the test. Ah, the joys of being married...

Danielle - trust me, that IS a lot of pressure. One thing that I've learned from dealing with my inlaws is that GOOD food makes you a good cook.

When we were first married, I always tried making complicated dishes for my inlaws whenever they'd come to visit. It was a lot of work to come up with new ideas, and I'd spend hours in the kitchen.

Well, one day I was short on time and so I made a VERY simple (but delicious) stew with a good loaf bread and salad. Oddly - THAT was the meal that my mother-in-law raved about for weeks... Since then, I've found it much easier to cook for guests in my home. Even picky ones.

[Gail]

I dunno. I think I'd either do one of two things-- either a good, light, basic American dinner like Sneezles suggests or I'd go really basic and barbecue. Come up with some interesting sauce for your husband and you to enjoy-- the rest can either try it or have it plain. The only one I'm baffled by is the teenager-- but then teenagers CAN be baffling. You say what she won't eat, not what she WILL eat. If the only meat is chicken and you barbecue, throw a piece of chicken on the grill. Is she a salad person? Make her a special salad. If the things she eats don't cause too big a problem and she simply won't eat what she doesn't like, make her a special meal-- she might actually appreciate the effort.

The act of having your inlaws over to dine is actually less about your abilities in the kitchen than it is about being together as a family. If you want to impress them with your cooking, it's probably best to cook them on their level, maybe throwing in a side dish that is "different" but still possibly within their dietary constraints.

You know you can cook well, your husband knows you cook well-- and very likely you'll have to be content with that knowledge in this particular case. I'm inclined to think that it comes to picky eaters, the simpler your menu is, the more liable they are to be impressed.

Wouldn't it be nice if people would just come to your home, eat whatever is served and be gracious about it?

Good luck!

[MrsReber]

How about the CL taco salad for the picky SIL? That is very good. I made it and omitted the chicken. I'm not big on cold poultry.

[JeanneW]

I would take the very safe route and go with a roast chicken. You could also do mashed potatoes since almost everyone likes those and then get that salad in there and then maybe you could experiment with a veggie dish. Add some good bread and you've taken care of the vegetarian SIL and the picky parents. Then go crazy with a spectacular dessert. After it's all over you and hubby can sit back with a lovely glass of wine and congratulate yourselves on a job well done! And hopefully you won't have to do it for another year.

[MrsReber]

Sounds like you need a good chicken dish. I know there's a good chicken recipe that was posted very recently for chicken in wine sauce? I haven't tried it, but heard that it's great. Then you could make a big huge salad that might please your sister-in-law and some potatoes to go with the chicken? Maybe a soup, too, as sort of an appetizer. Then, if your SIL doesn't want to eat the chicken, she can have soup and salad? And a nice dessert, of course!!

I can sympathize with you- my brother-in-law is allergic to poultry and mushrooms, my sister is vegetarian, I don't eat fish, and my sister-in-law doesn't eat any cheese. We always have two or three entrees when the family gets together! It usually works out well, too, then everyone can pick on different things.

[Susann]

Hi Danielle-I am sorry I do not have any suggestions. Just wanted to let you know I feel your pain!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I have been known to post on this BB about my hubbie and all his 'dislikes.' Sometimes I become Evil Wife Creature and feed him stuff that he thinks he doesn't like, only I change the name. I don't think I would be brave enough to do this with my in-laws, though. I hope it works out well-if you can please all these different likes and dislikes, I think you deserve a metal!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif