Living Maintenance - I Need Your Help....

I haven't had my in-laws over for dinner in over a year. Soooo, I thought it was high time. They'll be coming over Sunday night.

I called my MIL, she's speaking to my FIL in the background. They agree. My FIL jokingly (not so jokingly) asks what I'll be serving. He KNOWS it's going to be healthy and he LOVED how I used to cook. I've cooked for them a few times after I've made the switch and yes, he's always loved it as well (so there) , but still has to rib me about it. Whatever. Anyway. I want to wow them. Bowl them over. Knock their socks off.

My problem is they come over so infrequently and I've got SOOOO many dishes I want to try on them. But I've got to pare down the menu! It would be insane to make soup, 3 salads, 2 main dishes, 5 side dishes and 2 desserts - right?

First course I think is going to be a grilled fig and cantaloupe salad with baby spinach, red onions, and chopped toasted walnuts.

Then is a tomato/cabbage/barley soup (cooking as we speak)

I'm making fresh hot whole wheat dinner rolls.

Then it will be chicken on the bone, cooked in a covered pot with onions, mushrooms in a wine sauce with a hit of lemon, rosemary and thyme. Super tender and oh so tasty.

Boneless chicken breasts coated in cornflakes, oats, sliced almonds with cayenne pepper, baked in the over. Super crunchy yet incredibly tender.

Sides: Big delemia here. I've got to cut this back:

I want to go with:
Acorn squash wedges with apples maple syrup and cinnamon. and
Honey Peppered turnips
Grilled veggie platter - peppers, portobello mushrooms, zucchini slices, sweet potato slices, onions slices
Roasted string beans & brussel sprouts with onions and chopped garlic. I must serve this. They've just got to see how good simple veggies can be. I was also thinking roasted asparagus.

Then I want to serve a couple more salads as side dishes:

cucumber, mango, red onion salad with cilantro and lime
Red cabbage salad with red wine vinegar, shredded carrots, scallions, slivered almonds and craisins.
Roasted grape tomatoes with garlic and basil

Dessert will be poached pears in wine and raspberry sauce.
I would like to serve a second dessert. Would love your thoughts.

Any suggestions. On any aspect of this. HELP!!!!!!!!

IT all sounds sooooooooooowonderful. I would go with the greenbeans and the cucumbers. If you are serving the chicken with mushrooms then avoid the grilled veggie platter with mushrooms. Just a thought.

and please, set another place for me.....

make that 2 place settings. Sounds wonderful.
Will they bring dessert? If so don't make a second one.
Have fun

Can I come too?

Acorns squash wedges and grilled vegetables, please. 6 o'clock or so? I'll be there!

I think I can cut the grilled veggies (sorry Midwife). And maybe, maybe the grape tomatoes with basil and garlic (?). And no, they wouldn't DARE bring dessert. No, no, no. But I would like to make something else. I thought of individual molten chocolate cakes with whipped cream. I could safely make just enough for everyone where I wouldn't have to have one (this is not a splurge weekend for me, had one last weekend), BUT I don't want the in-laws to think that I HAVE to serve chocolate cake-y things, so I am still undecided about this. I bet Amanda would have an idea about another dessert.

And you have no idea how I'd love to have all my 3FC friends over for dinner. So trust me, you're not scaring me!

For dessert...core apples, place in pam sprayed baking pan...sprinkle with splenda brown sugar or your sweetner of choice..honey..and cinnamon. bake till tender. YUM tastes like apple pie without the crust.

For dessert...core apples, place in pam sprayed baking pan...sprinkle with splenda brown sugar or your sweetner of choice..honey..and cinnamon. bake till tender. YUM tastes like apple pie without the crust.

Yes. I do something similar all the time. I core the apples and in the center I place raisins, cinnamon, chopped walnuts, SF maple syrup and bake in a pan of which I place about an inch of water and cover with foil. We eat this every week in fact and I DO serve it for company - but - I am serving the acorn squash wedges with apples. I feel they are too similar. I thought about forgoing the squash just so I COULD serve the bakes apples, but I really want them to try, know and LOVE acorn squash.

What kinds of desserts do they like? Might be nice to make an awesome version of one of their favorites.

What kinds of desserts do they like? Might be nice to make an awesome version of one of their favorites.

So then you don't feel the poached pears are enough? And that the souffles are too much???

Maybe a sherbet of some time type??? They do like ice cream...

I'm voting for the red cabbage salad. And I want a 3FC dinner party - everyone talks about such tasty things they are making!

My sister made a lemon violet sorbet for Thanksgiving a few years back and it was AMAZING and a great end to dinner. I think this is a recipe.... Lemon violet sorbet (http://www.scribd.com/doc/12844262/Lemon-Violet-Sorbet)

Here are my thoughts . . .

Side dishes -- ditch the turnips, turnips are boring compared to squash. Ditch the grilled veggies because grilled veggies, while tasty, are boring and not particularly "special." Serve the acorn squash and the brussels sprouts.

The salads:
Do the red cabbage salad, it sounds like it will fit well with the menu. The others don't sound like they would match the rest of your menu to me, since they are more summery and it is fall.

Dessert:
Even before I saw your other post I was thinking some sort of very dark chocolate cake would be a great second dessert. A molten one or a flourless one. It would go great with the pears!

Here are my thoughts . . .

Side dishes -- ditch the turnips, turnips are boring compared to squash. Ditch the grilled veggies because grilled veggies, while tasty, are boring and not particularly "special." Serve the acorn squash and the brussels sprouts.

The salads:
Do the red cabbage salad, it sounds like it will fit well with the menu. The others don't sound like they would match the rest of your menu to me, since they are more summery and it is fall.

Dessert:
Even before I saw your other post I was thinking some sort of very dark chocolate cake would be a great second dessert. A molten one or a flourless one. It would go great with the pears!

Jessica, I hear what you're saying about the boring stuff. But I want them to see the elegant stuff AND the EVERYDAY stuff. The ez-shmeazy simple every day foods. That they don't have to eat potatoes, rice and pasta. And it wasn't necessarily an either / or. If I have leftovers we can eat them during the week. I may ditch the tomato salad. But I definitely want to make the cucumber mango salad, it's simple and different - oh sheesh. I just remembered my FIL is highly allergic to mango. Darn. I already bought two of them.. Shoot. Now I've got these two gorgeous huge mangoes sitting here.... Oh well, whatever.

The desserts: Thanks for the lemon recipe, but I don't have a ice cream maker. Maybe I will just make those molten cakes. They are FABULOUS and a real show stopper...

That all sounds wonderful! I would do the roasted string beans and roasted tomatoes and the cucumber mango salad. That way you have color and flavor combined. And fresh and cooked. Yes to the acorn b/c you can count it on the starch side( and b/c it will be fab).
And yes yes yes to both pears and chocolate molten desserts.

And yes to the 3fc dinner party at robin's!!

OMG - I'm on the way Robin.... :drool: Who says that healthy whole foods are dull? :lol:

And that lemon violet sorbet sounds amazing - except where can I find fresh violets this time of year? :)

So then you don't feel the poached pears are enough? And that the souffles are too much???

Maybe a sherbet of some time type??? They do like ice cream...

Sorry - I thought you were looking for a second dessert option! You talked about the molten cake and then seemed to self-shoot it down.

I made some candied orange peel the last time I made chocolate cake. It was easy and very fancy.

Don't be sorry Glory. I was thinking out loud and trying to work it out and was unclear. I decided to do the poaches pears and the chocolate souffle's.

I just did some shopping and my first course isn't going to happen. I couldn't find fresh figs. :(.

Called my MIL and yes, my FIL IS allergic to mango. So that's not happening either.

There I have it, cut down without having to think much.

Hmmm, need me a new first salad course...

Could you sub strawberry for the mango?

Oooh, what about pomegranate seeds in a salad, they are coming in to season now. I make a salad with heirloom lettuce (red/green leaves), candied walnuts, pomegranate seeds, carrot shreddies and a little bit of crumbled goat cheese.

Could you sub strawberry for the mango?

Oooh, what about pomegranate seeds in a salad, they are coming in to season now. I make a salad with heirloom lettuce (red/green leaves), candied walnuts, pomegranate seeds, carrot shreddies and a little bit of crumbled goat cheese.

No, strawberry wouldn't work. It's a diced cucumber, mango, red onion salad. Strawberries would be the wrong consistency and wouldn't hold it's shape or go well with the cucumber. No big deal.

But - I did just buy a couple of pomegranates! I figured they're so hot right now that I would do something with them.

Man, I feel kind of pathetic. I had a bowl of raisin bran for supper!

Two Things ~ :)

#1 ~ When does your cookbook come out? Please include pictures...:)

and

#2 ~ My daughter in law "wows" me just because of who she is...

she could cook hot dogs and beans...

bet it's the same for your in-laws...:hug:

Robin - sounds FANTASTIC! I definitely vote for the pears and chocolate for desert!

On the mango, can you substitute a fresh pineapple or cantaloupe?

And, I'm with the others - cookbook, dinner party, WHATEVER -
COUNT ME IN!

You are such an inspiration, your menu sounds divine!

Two Things ~ :)

#1 ~ When does your cookbook come out? Please include pictures...:)

and

#2 ~ My daughter in law "wows" me just because of who she is...

she could cook hot dogs and beans...

bet it's the same for your in-laws...:hug:

#1 - Cookbook? Cookbook? I've got hundreds of healthy recipes, hundreds. It's something that is in the back of my mind.

#2 - We live all of 15 minutes away from the in laws and they never come over unless I invite them for a meal. It does kind of bother me that they just can't pick up the phone and ask if it would be a convenient time to pop in to stay a bit and visit with their grand children. And I feel funny just inviting them to "just pop in", stopped doing that after a few years as I saw it wasn't working, so I feel as if I have to make them a meal and a substantial one at that. I was never really a hot dogs and beans kinda gal, though I get your point. Entertaining, feeding people good food has always been one of my "things". Everyone's come to expect it from me,which again is fine, because I do enjoy it. Hard work pays off, right? In fact, when I first made the switch to the healthy lifestyle, I sat down with my family and told them that the entertaining would have to stop for a while. That I didn't want the temptation around. But after a few short months, as I developed healthy, nutritious, yet thoroughly DELICIOUS recipes, I saw that I COULD entertain, serve wonderful, fabulous meals without going off plan.

Robin - sounds FANTASTIC! I definitely vote for the pears and chocolate for desert!

On the mango, can you substitute a fresh pineapple or cantaloupe?

And, I'm with the others - cookbook, dinner party, WHATEVER -
COUNT ME IN!

You are such an inspiration, your menu sounds divine!

Pears and chocolate are a go! I'm scratching the other salad, the mango really, really "makes it". Oh well.

Thanks for the other kind words as well. Again - name the time folks - you're all invited. :hug:

Windchime, that cereal thing happening there for dinner, that's just a once in a while thing, right? Please say right. Please. ;)

I do wish you lived closer to ME, I would love to pop in for coffee and a chat :)

I do wish you lived closer to ME, I would love to pop in for coffee and a chat :)

Don't even get me started. A dream come true, really. One day. It's just got to happen. :smug:

Ummmm... can I come over for dinner? :D

SUCCESS!!!!

It went really, really well.

I wound up making:

-Hot out of the oven Whole Wheat dinner rolls - which got raves
-Tomato Barley Cabbage Soup - FIL asked for seconds
-Cesar Salad
-A red Cabbage, shredded carrots, craisins, mandarin oranges, scallions salad - to which I added Pomegranate seeds. It's dressed with red wine vinegar, which I greatly reduced and used rice vinegar instead and the juice from the can of mandarin oranges. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil A HALF CUP OF OIL!!! What are these people thinking? Taking perfectly nutritious, low calorie, delicious food and adding - A HALF CUP OF OIL!!!! I used ZERO oil. NONE. Rant over. This was so pretty and so tasty. The seeds added a nice touch and nice crunch. Big hit.
-Roasted grape tomatoes with garlic - yum, they couldn't believe how good this was.
-Chicken on the bone with mushrooms, onions, lemon, wine, rosemary and thyme - so tender, so tasty, so well received and boneless chicken breasts with a cornflake, oats, sliced almond coating - major yummo. My MIL & FIL kept taking more and more.
-Roasted string beans with tons of onions and chopped garlic - they were devoured in seconds flat
-Acorn squash wedges with apples, maple syrup and cinnamon
-Dessert, I served on one square golden plate, a poached pear (in red wine, SF raspberry jello, cinnamon & vanilla), a mini chocolate molten souffle and a mound of whipped cream. They were swooning and mucho impressed.
-Hot tea

Oh another cute thing that I did went over well. I sliced lemon, lime and orange and froze it in a small plastic rectangular container. I then put the "big ice cube" into a glass water pitcher filled with cold water. It looks so pretty and tastes delish. No need to serve soda, not even diet.

The only thing I overindulged on was of course - the carb-y stuff. The cornflake/oats/almonds chicken. It was so crunchy - crunch gets me every time. And lot of the crumbs fell into the pan and me, being me, as I was cleaning up ate too much of it. I did not adhere to my "never eat while standing" rule.

I wonder if my FIL will still rib me about my healthy eating.. Ah, nothing to wonder about - he will. Doesn't bother me. I'm feel wonderful about what I eat and what I serve my family and guests. :)

Robin, anyone would be crazy not to be absolutely thrilled with such a delicious menu served to them, period. You serve delicious food, not "just" delicious healthy food! Glad it went well and your in-laws enjoyed the meal. Hopefully it will make them want to come over more often for dinner!

So I will be over tonight to help with the leftovers, mmkay? :drool:

Truly your name fits you, my dear ROCKIN' ROBIN. Totally awesome healthy meal. YUM!!

Sounded fabulous - I would love some of that squash right now!

YUM-O! When and where can I look for your cookbook?! :hun:

It IS IS IS time for a cookbook. :)

Robin, anyone would be crazy not to be absolutely thrilled with such a delicious menu served to them, period. You serve delicious food, not "just" delicious healthy food! Glad it went well and your in-laws enjoyed the meal. Hopefully it will make them want to come over more often for dinner!

So I will be over tonight to help with the leftovers, mmkay? :drool:

Isn't it amazing how people have pre-conceived notions about healthy foods? That they're boring, tasteless and dull. NOTHING could be further from the truth. Nothing. The food I'm eating/serving now is just as interesting and tasty (most of it even more so) then that other stuff fat producing foods. And look at all the benefits to eating this way. It's a win/win situation!

Glory, I'll be having some of that squash for lunch today. I'm greatly looking forward to it.

Thanks everyone for you input and kind words. :hug: