Vat

Mac 'n' Cheese is always a big hit with little ones.

2manyhobbies

When we visited my mil she kept pulling food out because everything had been made and frozen. That's the way to go. And the Omelets in a bag that were suggested? Absolutely fun and easy. I'm a baked ziti girl. Fast and delicious. Can be made ahead. Of course my baked Mac and cheese isn't bad either. I also liked the idea of 'food bars'. Do it yourself tacos, etc. even hotdogs can be fun. Put the condiments in a muffin tin so people can just trot by the tin, and put on the fixins. The trick is to not kill yourself cooking when they are there. Enjoy your family.

sdeaaz

Ladies you are wonderful..... this is such a help. I don't know why I stress so, but want to have them enjoy their time here.... meal time is always when we sit and visit, so a good meal helps keep everybody there. Thanks again. You are always the best.

Sewnoma

My family is predominately vegetarian, so we do LOTS of veggies.

My sister & the kids were visiting and I know the kids are picky eaters so we did everything buffet style. I basically created a salad bar type arrangement by chopping veggies into tupperware that could be be closed up & stacked in the 'fridge, and then we'd add other ingredients to change it. So one afternoon, it was a taco/burrito bar. Later that night, baked potato bar. Then tacos and burritos again the next day, because the kids loved them so much, LOL.

I'm also a cook-ahead person with a big freezer in the garage, so I already had things like soup, casserole & lasagna cooked up and pre-portioned and waiting in the freezer so that was an option too. I was surprised to find that my niece & nephew REALLY liked my veggie soup. Did not expect that!

nwm50

I find that putting meals in crockpot free up your time abundtly !!
Soup,,,,pot roast...beef stew..spaghetti ,,,,chicken n rice.....etc..
For the little ones for snacks, carrots, peanut butter,fruits,crackers, etc
Just enjoy their company and don't stress over meals so much...

barny

Well, I would have to have a big container of Mac 'n Cheese ready. Kids love it. Pizza's are always liked. Big good salad with it. Make a big pot of vegetable soup to fill in . Chicken Salad for sandwiches. Potato Salad, good. deviled eggs, Kids love these. Put fried sausage in a baggie ready for eggs for breakfast. Cook some bacon for eggs. Put in baggie. This can be done ahead of time. Have boxes of Cereal for the kids.

carolaug

Find out what their favorite cereal is along with others of their favorites...as back ups.

plainpat

This is a recipe that can be frozen,add the cheese before baking. All the Grkids & their friends would eat it every day,if they could.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-spaghetti

Mariah

We have the same situation with our kids. I have used some of the ideas given, and our kids loved them all.
All I can add is to make double meals for awhile before they come; Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, then by making double the sauce freezei it then make Las Sagna a day 2 ahead. They love it, and it doesn't seem so "putzy" as to make it all the same day
Make yeast rolls and have on hand. Our kids love them, and cinnamon rolls.
In a few words, make double of everything, freeze the 2nd half and get it out when you see you are having company.
I hadn't thought of them making their own pizzas, so we will do that next time. Great idea!!
Mariah.
If you need an easy and inexpensive yeast roll recipe that also makes delicious cinnamon rolls I have one; just p.m me. Mariah

IBQUILTIN

If you have not seen it, the Food Network Magazine issue is chock full of fun summer recipes that are simple and delicious. Some we have started using already and some I have locked away in my memory bank for use the rest of the summer. Yummy stuff