Cooking for the ILs

[SuzySunshine]

Ok ladies, my ILs are coming up on Thursday and staying until Sunday afternoon. Saturday night we're all going out for a nice dinner but we're cooking at home the rest of the meals or at least that is what I'm planning for just in case.

Thursday night I want something easy and fast since they're going to get her around 5 and we want to go to a hot air balloon race at 7. I'm thinking grilled marinated chicken, grilled asparagus, bread (not for MIL) and salad.

The biggest issue is that MIL is on a restricted diet. She will eat: fruits, veggies, meat, chicken, eggs, fish, nuts, some bacon or sausage and cheese - that's pretty much it. So no bread, pasta, rice...

Any help, ideas, tried and true recipes, would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I should add that MIL is a FABULOUS cook! :|

Re: Cooking for the ILs

I think your idea of grilling and enjoying the summer weather is a good one. It also is a nice way to keep food groups separate for your MIL. How about grilling some salmon and corn on the cob or kebabs and serve couscous with it (for all but MIL)? A roasted chicken is always nice.

-- on all fronts!

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

Seeing that list, do you suppose she eats beans? Her comment was that she doesn't eat anything that is a sugar or turns into a sugar, beans wouldn't fall into that, right?

Re: Cooking for the ILs

But she eats fruit?

I don't know, I would guess not. Do you mean green beans or dried beans (kidney etc)?

Maybe my suggestion of corn wouldn't work since that is so starchy.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

But she eats fruit?

That was exactly DH & I's reaction. :huh: It seems like every time we go home she makes salmon and grilled veggies so I really have no idea what they eat on a day to day basis.

I made this great grilled tuna with white beans (like a kidney bean) last week for DH and I but I'm not sure that she could eat it, I guess she could have the tuna without the beans.

Thanks for being a sounding board DH is so swamped this week he hasn't had time to help with planning.

Re: Cooking for the ILs

Mmm...I think the tuna and white beans sounds really good. Make that! She can pick the tuna out of it.

[Vanquisher]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

I posted a trout recipe on here with a pecan crust. It has a citrus rosemary butter sauce. You could skip the butter, though, and instead use an orange juice and rosemary reduction on it's own.

Steamed shellfish is always an option. Really easy!

Chicken taco salad - She can skip the tortilla chips. Easy though.

Other than that, I say make what you want to eat, and she can deal.

[migirl]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

For dinners I would do (separately) a protein, a starch (she doesn't have to eat it), a veggie, etc. So, grill up some chicken breasts, do a couscous side, and some steamed vegetables. She can eat what she wants and leave what she doesn't. I think it would be too hard to try to figure out dishes that incorporate all of her dietary restrictions. :huh:

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

What about grilling some delicious summer stuff?

Like cabobs with some small pineapple chunks? Or delicious grilled peaches?

That way its easy grilling but it's fresh and summery.

[Deebs]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

I would do simple eggs and fruit for breakfasts. It sounds like she's on some kind of modified Atkins or South Beach diet. Since she'll eat fruit, will she do sorbet? Or, I just found sugar free Italian Ice at the grocery - they're actually really good.

[Momo]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

Other than that, I say make what you want to eat, and she can deal.

I'm w/Heidi :>

[Phoebe]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

Going through a couple Pampered Chef cookbooks for Casual Cooking... I can give you the recipes if anything sounds good.

Lemon Chicken with Cucumer Salsa
Rosemary Pork Chops
Mediterranean Steak Salad
Cajun Chicken Salad
Grilled Asparagus & Portobello Mushroom Salad
Curried Vegetable Couscous (30 mins or less)
Tropical Turkey and Spinach Salad
Italian Market Meat Loaf
Caribbean Pot Roast
Ham & Cheese Omelet Roll

Cooking Light-Simple Summer Suppers
Grilled Steak and Summer Veggies with Pesto
(zucchini, squash, peppers, onions)
Chicken with Roasted Apples
Greek Chicken with Capers, Raisins and Feta served with Curried Couscous, steamed, sliced zucchini

Best of Cooking Light Fresh and Easy summer fruits, veggies and herbs
-Pike Place Market Salad (salad mix, blackberries, blue cheese, walnuts) Dressing (apple cider, corn starch, water, shallots, vinegar, salt and pepper)
-Chicken and Strawberries over mixed greens
-Bourbon-glazed pork chops and peaches
-Nectarine and chickpeas cousscous salad with honey-cumin dressing
-Sesame-chile Chicken with Gingered Watermelon SAlsa

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

Wow thanks guys - we're going simple. Grilled chicken or fish for dinner, a veggie, a salad, and a bread (which she won't eat).

I'm doing fruit, bagels & english muffins for breakfast and if DH want to make a big breakfast Saturday or Sunday I'll leave that up to him.

These are all great suggestions and I will catalog them away for future visits. She has ulcerative culitis (sp?) which is why she is so picky about what she eats.

Thanks again!

[Momo]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

She has ulcerative colitis which is why she is so picky about what she eats.

oops! In that case I guess you are obligated to cook appropriately!

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Cooking for the ILs

She has ulcerative colitis which is why she is so picky about what she eats.

oops! In that case I guess you are obligated to cook appropriately!

Well, some of the things she doesn't eat still don't make sense with her diagnosis but what are you going to do? She told us not to worry about it, to make whatever we usually eat and she'd find something - yay right. Since DH and I eat A LOT of pasta and bread that would have gone over really well. :huh: