I need various ideas

[akafred]

MIL is coming to visit the 22nd through 27th. I will be off M-Th before her visit in part making ahead good. She eats meat; I do not. DH can go either way so I am not used to cooking meat. I need dinner ideas for Fri, Sat, Sun, Tues. I am thinking a veggie lasagne for one, some kind of burrito or enchiladas I can put in the freezer early. Maybe a crock pot chili? I have also been wanting to make a quiche-like tofu and cheese spinach pie thing lately that I can easily freeze ahead. Is there something I can get or do that is meat but small, so like a chicken breast and she can eat what I make us as a side? Is there something I can buy pre-made and just nuke it?

Christmas dinner will probably be mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. Is there somewhere I can get turkey for like 2 people pre-made? Or ham?

For lunches I will just get a little sliced lunch meat and veggie trays probably. She tends to not eat much for lunch. Breakfast we'll probably cook pancakes and eggs because that is what she does at her house. I don't want to spend my life in the kitchen so help me out.

Also, things we can do together in the house or elsewhere? She can't walk much because she had leg surgery a year ago and her foot still swells up. When we went on vacation together it felt overwhelming because there was no escape for me (I'm an introvert). Thankfully DH will be there and we have multiple living spaces so I should be able to get some alone time, hopefully. If not my dog may get walked a lot lol. Anyway, ideas? Get a jigsaw puzzle? Board games? See the lights somewhere? Any other ideas?

ETA just remembered we are boarding the dog because she is allergic. So she is no excuse.

[greenmonkey1]

Vegan Sloppy Joe: minimalistbaker.com/vegan-sloppy-joes/ or in the crockpot thecrockpotcook.com/crock-pot-lentil-sloppy-joes/

Crockpot Aloo Gobi (Potato Cauliflower Curry): healthyslowcooking.com/slow-cooker-potato-cauliflower-curry-aloo-gobi-recipe/

Do you have a Honeybaked Ham in your area? They usually sell small turkey breasts precooked and sliced. You could also do a rotisserie chicken from your grocery store.

My girlfriend swears by the Tastefully Simple "Magic Chicken". Not sure exactly what makes their version "magic", but basically it is shredded chicken. You can make it in advance in the crockpot and then add to any meal you want. This recipe is largely unseasoned so you can make it work with whatever vegetarian main you are already making (www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/05/easy-crockpot-shredded-chicken.html).

[covergirl82]

My mom buys a frozen turkey breast for our holiday meals. It's a perfect size for 4-5 adults.

I think the other meals and food you mentioned are great.

For things to do, I think board games, card games, puzzles are all great ideas. Also looking at lights and other places that have holiday decorations. Or going to the library or a museum? Maybe to a movie?

[twinmomma]

A rotisserie chicken is a great idea greenmonkey1! We often buy one of those to just slice up and have on hand in the fridge for the week. You can get a surprising amount of meat off it, and you don't have to deal with actually cooking it yourself. And chicken is neutral enough to go with whatever other stuff you make.

It might be too late in the season by then, but Festival of Trees events are big here. You just walk around a venue looking at decorated trees.

[sweetptater]

I think your menu sounds good. Does she absolutely HAVE to have meat? I wouldn't mind at all if I showed up to a vegetarian/vegan friend's house and there was no meat. Maybe she's enjoy trying new ways of eating things.

As for the meat, a rotisserie/roasted/crock pot chicken or turkey breast would be perfect.

Puzzles are a fun activity to set up on a card table. People can work on them whenever or while they chat.

[mommyatty]

Target has pre-made Cooking Light meats that feed 2 people. I’ve seen roast turkey, brisket, and a few others. You just have to heat them up. Also, yes, rotisserie chicken. My kids eat a ton of that when they won’t eat what we are having.

I liked your ideas of stuff to do. Puzzles, cards, board games. Is she good with DD? Maybe making cookies or having sugar cookies already made and decorating them together? Then you can go deliver them to the neighbors... ALONE. LOL. Would she enjoy watching Char at one of her activities? That would let Char burn energy while MIL could sit.

[akafred]

Char won't have any activities during that time. We're between seasons. So if we did it would be a trampoline place or roller skating or swimming or something like that. Which C will definitely need to do some of.

MIL will be fine with some vegetarian meals, but 5 days is a long time to go meatless entirely, I would think.

We will def make our Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve as usual. We may make some others for other people too, we will see.

[sudokufan]

My grocery store's deli does pretty decent pre cooked meals, so I would check that out as a source of a protein that just needs reheating. I've gotten a half pound of pulled pork there to add to quesadillas or make sandwiches. The other thing you can do is get some shrimp to add to a dish - they cook so quickly that you could dish up the pasta or whatever for those who don't want shrimp first, toss the shrimp in the pan and cook it while getting drinks or whatever.

Dominos, rummy cubes and scrabble are big here. Plus jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles (we do crosswords as a group lol).

Easy craft projects - DS is 4, so I entertain him and my parents in one go this way because they get a kick out of helping him. We cut trees out of construction paper, then use stickers to decorate them, or get an empty box and make a diorama using stickers and paper and his toys. I bought a gingerbread house kit at CVS that turned out pretty well and was fun.

[mustardseed2007]

I second the grocery store's prepped meals. Ours has stuffed chicken breast that is really good. We don't normally get it b/c they sell it one or two to a pack, but that's perfect for your situation.

[waverly]

I agree with everyone else check the pre-cooked deli portion of the grocery store for small hams or turkey breast. Otherwise I would grab an uncooked turkey breast. I also love the idea other people had of the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken found in the same section of the grocery store.

I like those gingerbread house kits. I would just make sure you get out on your own. Go to the store, for a walk, for a pedicure, take yourself out for a drink and appetizer, manufacture an errand to run, escape to your room and watch a movie.

Speaking of movies you could all go out and see one together.

[2chatter]

I make several vegetarian dishes and add rotisserie chicken to them, so another vote for that solution!

Also - black bean and sweet potato chili is a hit here - FIL seriously dig through his bowl trying to find the meat when I told him it was vegetarian.