Easter Dinner- help!

So story- we're going to DH's grandparents house on Saturday for 'Easter.' They are 91 and 92 and they cant leave their house really so we will go there for an early easter dinner. There's 13 of us going- and DH's family refuses to make dinner. They want to order Chinese or pizza.

This bothers me. I dont think that you should spend your potentially last Easter with family eating Chinese or pizza. I just think its mean. Maybe I'm wrong, but this is how i feel, so I say... lets do a potluck type thing and we'll all pitch in and make a dish.

NOPE- 'I dont want to cook'...'I dont want to carry it'....'it will be cold'. blah blah blah.... so I say, fine, I'll make the entire dinner. (and even still when I say this, no one offers to help me)

Here's the issues- 1) i've never made a roast or a ham or anything fancy like that before and 2) i have a half oven basically so its tiny.

I was thinking of doing a ham (how hard could that be??) and some potatoes and veggies?

Any other quick easy ideas that I can make to serve 13?

OHH and if anyone knows any sugar free desserts for DH's grandpa, that would help too.

Thanks ladies. I love you all.

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

Why dont you get catering? It will of course cost money but so will buying all those groceries and then you risk maybe not cooking something the right way. Call an italian pork store by you. They can cater pasta, entrees, sandwiches, etc for however many people you are having.

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

First - ITA that it shouldn't be chinese or pizza!!

The spiral hams that they sell (at Costco, BJ's or even stop and shop) are so simple... Basically you just warm them up and put a glaze on them - basically not much effort for a good meal!!

Mashed potatoes are always good - it will go along way and you can make them a day in advance and then just warm them up (with a bit of extra milk) the day of for serving.

Corn is always an easy veg...
Or even a mess of cut broccoli and cauliflower that you simply roast in the oven with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.
Steamed string beans - then just toss them in olive oil and some toasted almonds..
I'm a huge fan of asparagus (cook it just like the cauliflower/broccoli - until tender).

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

What about making a lasagna? That would feed a ton of people and not take up a ton of space in your oven. If youre going the ham route they are easy. Get a spiral ham, its a no brainer.

Youre so sweet... XOXOXOXO I agree with you 100%

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

ham all the way!!!! just heat.. sometime i eat it cold right from the market lmao

and a tray or 2 of lasagna. go to bj's and get a 3ft hero.

and call it a day.. but its sad how no1 even offered to help u

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

Stop and Shop has spiral ham for $1.49/lb. Just took a look at the circular

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

Thank you girls, 1000x over! I didnt even think to do a lasagna or anything!

maybe i'll do lasagna as an app- his grandfather would LOVE that.

and you're all making me less scared about making a ham!!

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

Yeah the ham is cooked already. You just need to heat it in the oven. You can even throw it in at their place when you first get there. By the time the apps and everything are served the ham will be heated through.

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

Here's a quick menu from an Italian:

Antipasto - put out some olives (use the canned ones, who cares), cheese (provolone, mozz)and pepperoni (dried stick)

Pasta - Penne, farfalle or campanelle in olive oil and garlic (sautee garlic in olive oil and pour over cooked pasta and toss). You can even cook some frozen broccoli and toss it in the pasta also.

Meat- Spiral ham works. OR you can buy a rotisserie from the supermarket or costco. Also you can make chicken cutlets. Super easy. Egg, bread crumbs, fry, done.

Starch - Mashed Potatoes - real or instant, but you can gussy them up by covering the top with italian season bread crumbs and baking in the oven.

Another potato option is to peel, cut into big chunks and cook in boiling water until about fork tender (you can do this with sweet potatos also or mix both). Then put them in a roasting pan with enough chicken stock to coat the bottom of the pan, cloves of garlic, some onion (2 or 3 pearl onions works just fine), salt, pepper, parsley and olive oil. you can throw some carrots in also which will give you another veggie side dish and give the potatoes nice flavor.

Veggies - salad, easy, lettuce olive oil and a little salt. Broccoli, if you dont toss in the pasta (you can roast this after you cook it in the oven with italian seasoned bread crumbs on top). Also, fresh string beans, takes 5minutes to cook in boiling water and top with some salt. You can also.

For dessert, make jell-o mousse. Make individual cups of it for your guests. And pick up a cake from the supermarket or carvel.

Hope this helps!

Re: Easter Dinner- help!

We make a lot of meat pies...we call them easter pies. I don't have the exact recipes but I'm sure if you google it you may find it. you can make them days in advance and heat them up the day of.