Moxie Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I can plan breakfasts and dinners but lunch has me stumped. Besides chips and sandwiches, what do you plan for lunches with guests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Soup & salad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Ugh, I hate lunch. Planning it, having food for it. I'd have stuff for sandwiches, quick soups, and salads. Chips, hummus and pita bread/chips. Fruit. Quesadillas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magic Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I like to do something that I can place in the crockpot for everyone to eat when they are ready to. Taco meat, sloppy joes, meatballs, pulled pork, and bbq beef are all good. You just need buns, bread, tortillas, or shells and everyone can serve themselves when ready. I also like to have sliced veggies and a large bowl of fruit for everyone to snack on as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I'd have sandwich makings available, for self-serve lunch, and a couple cartons of coleslaw or tater salad in the 'fridge, too. Fruit and cut-up veggies. If folks want more, they can go out or get take-out (I can have menus available). B'fast would be about the same, self-serve from available cereals, toast, bagels etc. as I really only cook dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I like to do something that I can place in the crockpot for everyone to eat when they are ready to. Taco meat, sloppy joes, meatballs, pulled pork, and bbq beef are all good. You just need buns, bread, tortillas, or shells and everyone can serve themselves when ready. I also like to have sliced veggies and a large bowl of fruit for everyone to snack on as well. Yum! I want to come visit. I'm more like Marbel and don't know what to do for lunch EVER. When we visit MIL she always has a large pot of homemade soup. We usually have soup and sandwich for lunch, or just soup. Easy to heat up in microwave whenever anyone wants to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Lunch is usually "out". We usually find ourselves out anyways, often the men/boys doing one thing and choosing somewhere to eat on their own, and the women/girls are shopping and eating out too. I do make sure there are sandwich fixings at home though, just in case someone happens to be there at lunch time or wants a midnight snack later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocassie Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I either do various lunch meats and cheese to make your own sandwiches with fruit, veggies, yogurt, and chips available. Or I will make a soup/chili/sloppy joes in the crockpot. Just depends on whether the guest tend to stay in for lunch or go out for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Grill cheese and tomato soup with a little oregano, basil, and garlic powder added, turkey (deli meat) sandwiches with cranberry sauce with pretzels, bagel and cream cheese ham sandwiches and canteloupe, sloppy joes via crockpot with veggies and dip..just some of my company lunch go-tos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Oh, teriyaki chicken! Grill the chicken ahead of time and freeze. Thaw, cut up, and put in crockpot with teriyaki sauce to heat. Roast zucchini, onions, and red peppers in the oven and cook rice. Biggest pain is cutting the veggies, but so yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Oven frittata: Salute some kind of allium (onion, leek, shallots), about 3 cups pre-cooked. Spray a 9x11 pan (I use glass) with cooking spray. Add alliums to the pan and spread evenly. Saute 4-5 cups of another veggie. I often use sliced mushrooms or broccoli in fall/winter. If you use mushrooms, saute long enough to get the water out. Put most of the sautéed veggie in the pan and spread out, reserving some veggies for top of frittata. Beat 10-11 eggs with a bit of cream (optional) and a TBSP of water (steam makes eggs fluffier.) Add 2 tsp salt. Add eggs to pan. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. I often use Parmesan or Gruyere but cheddar works well with broccoli. Don't use the powdery cheese; it doesn't melt well. Add reserved veggies on top. Bake at 375 for ~ 20 minutes. It should puff up a bit and brown. Convection works well too; use 350 for that. I usually make a salad while it's in the oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I can plan breakfasts and dinners but lunch has me stumped. Besides chips and sandwiches, what do you plan for lunches with guests? Nothing. You get chips and sandwiches every day and you're grateful for it. I will even go so far as to point out, when I'm visiting others, that we will help with sandwiches because "we love sandwiches". Make it easy on people. Of course I wouldn't lie--we do love some sandwiches--but there's only so much you can ask of people. Beyond that, organic canned soup, anyone? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 hot dogs frozen pizzas re-fried beans in the crock-pot for bean and cheese burritos microwaved potatoes for baked potatoes (have ham or bacon for topping) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I stand in the kitchen and point to the refrigerator! (Really. I haven't made lunch for my own kids in years. Even when they went to school, they packed their own lunch. Lunch eludes me. ) Edit: I like QueenCath's idea best of all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I often do pizza at the moment as it's easier than running to the shops for fresh sandwich fillings... Sandwiches are great though. I'd be thrilled if I was your guest and it was sandwiches, as I know all my kids will eat them with no fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Lunch is usually out. If it is brunch, they get either fried rice or fried noodles or chicken rice. If I am being lazy, my house guest gets steamboat. It's a hot pot with soup stock and guest just dump what they want in and then "fish" their food out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 I would go with sandwich stuff, chips, a veggie platter, and drinks. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domestic_engineer Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Is this idea too radical?!? Skip lunch. Instead, serve a brunch around 9 am, serve a big linner around 3, and finish the day with dessert around 5 or 6 pm. If anyone is hungry before or after linner, then they can snack on fruit or cut-up veggies. If you're really hungry and want to spoil your appetite, then make a sandwich for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 For me, too, form determines function - one-time guests, or staying for a day or two? Nicer fixings & well thought out. My family that is staying 10 days? Easy DIY sandwich stuff (most days) & lots of portable food, as we're likely to be out and about. When my family stays with us for a long time (week or so), I do self-serve breakfasts and lunches, and just make dinners (and some of those I make ahead and / or use a crock pot); my goal is to enjoy the GUESTS, not spend hours and hours in my kitchen. I get stuff they like, and we keep it simple, and everyone is happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Whenever we are MIL's, she tends to have sandwich stuff (meat, cheese), chips, fruit, and maybe soup available. That seems perfectly reasonable to me. Maybe make chicken salad ahead of time or a baked pasta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 You could cook up a bunch of chicken breasts and use them for wraps (Caesar or our favorite, buffalo), and you can also use them to top salads. I might also make a good soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 We do a lot of various burritos, wraps, and quesadillas with various filling for anyone who has kids. Adults I normally plan salad, soups, or rice bowls with various veggie stir fry. My son is a forager, so a big spread of fruit, veggies, bread, hummus, bean dip, and yogurt on the table work well. Some people do not consider this lunch if they are more traditional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 We have canned soup and sandwich meat available, but my mom is super-picky discerning about lunch meat, so we generally go out at least once. They are coming today after lunch (split their 12 hour drive into two parts, TG), we will go out on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day is an early afternoon dinner, so at least the next 3 days are taken care of. I feel your pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Soups are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamanthaCarter Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Is this idea too radical?!? Skip lunch. Instead, serve a brunch around 9 am, serve a big linner around 3, and finish the day with dessert around 5 or 6 pm. If anyone is hungry before or after linner, then they can snack on fruit or cut-up veggies. If you're really hungry and want to spoil your appetite, then make a sandwich for yourself. We do this in our home every saturday. Except the dessert part is popcorn and a TV show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 We do a lot of various burritos, wraps, and quesadillas with various filling for anyone who has kids. Adults I normally plan salad, soups, or rice bowls with various veggie stir fry. My son is a forager, so a big spread of fruit, veggies, bread, hummus, bean dip, and yogurt on the table work well. Some people do not consider this lunch if they are more traditional. This is what I prefer - just a bunch of stuff that goes together somewhat, and people can pick and choose what they like. But yeah, some people end up feeling that they hadn't been properly fed, as if that is just appetizers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Nothing. You get chips and sandwiches every day and you're grateful for it. I like this because I feel that way as a guest. I am grateful for whatever is there. I would never presume to judge or look sideways at ANYTHING I was offered, because to me it's a bonus. I am normally prepared to go to the store the first day I get anywhere and purchase cereal and milk, plus yogurt, granola, pb and j. If a host wants to feed us, I am grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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