Need veggie recipe suggestions...

...ah, but not just any vegetarian recipe suggestions -- I have specifications!

Steve & I are unapologetic carnivores, so this tall order is largely outside my area of expertise.  The in-laws (all of them) are arriving this weekend - MIL & FIL for about a week's stay, plus BIL & SIL just for Saturday/Sunday.

FIL & BIL are also carnivores, so no worries there.  MIL does eat fish & shellfish.  SIL doesn't eat fish/shellfish - vegetarian only (but not vegan), so we have basically 2 lunches & 1 evening meal I'm guessing that need to be completely veggie.  Plus, it's MIL's birthday so ideally it should be something special for her.

SIL is deathly allergic to aubergine, so that's out.  Both MIL & SIL have an aversion to cumin & coriander, so that leaves out a lot of curry & Mexican potential.  One year we've done a Spanish tapas spread - with olives, potato salad, etc (and jamon serrano for the meat eaters).  Last year, we did Greek food (salad, feta, hummous, pitas, olives, etc) -- which MIL is perfectly happy with that, but it would be nice to do something different.  They're both pretty accustomed to nut roasts & all - I don't think it's anything exciting.  I'm running out of ideas that fit all these specifications!!!!  (Thank goodness the other 4 of us eat pretty much anything! -- Except fake meat, no fake meat either.)

So in consideration of all the above - what are your smashing vegetarian recipes (hopefully not too time-consuming & laborious 'cos we don't have that kind of time!)?

Heck, we might stuff cooking the evening meal & just take everyone out to eat instead.  But that does leave the lunches?

Hrm. I eat mostly veggie so a few basic categories:

quiche (and breakfast casserole)
risotto
soups (minestrone, chunky veg, potato-leek, etc.)
pasta bakes (lasagne?)

I expect jennredd and Britwife to chime in with some brilliant suggestions but I second gershamabob's idea of Italian - you can do lasagne, manicotti, stuffed shells, etc. If you were extremely energetic you could do one meat version of lasagne and one vegetable.

I was also going to say Middle Eastern which sounds a lot like your Greek - pita, hummous, baba ganoush, taramsalata for the fish eaters, olives, feta, falafel.

Without cumin/coriander as you said, you are shut out of the Mexican ideas I'd suggest.  But again you could do meat/non-meat versions of fajitas - make your own type?  Steak, black beans, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onions, cheese, sour cream.  You could put fresh coriander as an add on for those who want it?

I'm guessing Indian is out?  You can do it without cumin/coriander, it's just not as nice.  I'd give ideas for that if not.

If you decide just lunches it's a lot easier, like soups/quiches.  For dinner I'd probably want to do something a bit more than just that.

carolyn_b, I have some fantastic recipes. I am more than tired from a long week though. Hopefully tomorrow evening for you isn't too long to post the recipes I have. I have vegan and vegetarian recipes that even the biggest meat eaters will love. Do they have a kind of food they like (ie Mexican, Italian, etc)?

Anyway, I'll post the ones I love tomorrow Off to bed

Thanks for the input so far, everyone!  Quiche & breakfast casserole are out because MIL and DH will not eat eggs.  MIL doesn't like risotto either.

It's much simpler with just MIL (leaving off SIL) because MIL eats fish/shellfish, which opens up a lot more possibilities.

I may have to go with the pasta or maybe soup ideas, or perhaps just repeat the Middle Eastern theme -- I also did tabbouleh that time as well, which was a big hit.

I think we may end up taking them out for the dinner to our local Italian, which I know MIL likes - we've taken her twice before.  So then it's just the two lunches, which would lend themselves more to a salady/soupy idea.  I make a mean minestrone, but I've only ever used my own homemade chicken stock as the base for it & it has pancetta in it too -- so can't do that version!

Other than all about what everyone doesn't like...I know MIL likes the Greek/Middle Eastern.  Nobody except Steve & I seem to like Mexican - weirdos!     MIL isn't keen on Indian either.  Everyone likes Italian but if we take them out for that, then we'll do something else for the lunches.

Soup might be good if this awful weather continues on.  Or if it's sunny, maybe something like gazpacho?  Oh I don't know!

Keep the ideas coming!

I expect jennredd and Britwife to chime in with some brilliant suggestions

Did I hear my name? 

If pasta isn't too boring, there are load of things you can do. Not sure if they still do it, but M&S used to do a giant sized ravioli stuffed with wild mushrooms. You really only need to serve it with a little melted butter & grated parmesan plus a side salad.

I also make a butternut squash sauce baked with spaghetti or linguine and loads of cheese, I think I posted the recipe on here for someone else recently.

On the middle eastern theme, I can give you a recipe for a delicious Persian broad bean stew that is VERY garlicky. Let me know if you'd like the recipe, may not suit people who don't want to reek of garlic for days afterwwards.  On the non garlicky side there is also a green bean stew recipe that's very tasty, again let me know if you'd like the recipe.  Either of these you could easily do a meat version & a veggie version.

Kebabs are good too. You could do meaty ones for the carnivores & veggie ones for the veggies, I usually use halloumi or chunks of  marinated tofu plus peppers, tomatoes etc.

Another thing that's nice, especially on a cooler day, is a veggie shepherds pie.  There are several versions I've made but my favourite is using brown (continental) lentils. I don't really have a recipe but just make it up as I go along! Basically fry some onion & garlic add a load of lentils and cover with vegetable stock (Marigold is the best), maybe add a little marmite or soy sauce for a "meatier" flavour.  Add whatever finely chopped veggies you like (I like chopped peppers) and some dried mixed herbs, season to taste and let it simmer til the lentils are done and the sauce is nice and thick (about 1/2 hour). Bung in an oven dish, top with mash & grated cheese (optional). Bake at about 200 for about 1/2 hour or til the top is golden.

Oh now I'm hungry!

Roasted Butternut Squash soup is one of my favorites.  Also Potato & Leek.

How about soup & salad with crusty bread for lunch.  Candied pecans or walnuts and feta over rocket is always a crowd pleaser, with sliced pears. mmmmm!

http://www.epicurious.com/ one of my favorite recipe sites online! 

You've had some fab suggestions here, so I don't really have anything to add except ... wow, what houseguests!!! My only suggestion would be to pretend you're busy that weekend!   

Seriously, though, if the weather's good could you do a barbecue one day. It could be either lunch or dinner. That way, the meaty people could have burgers, and you could do some veggie things for the others. Veggie kebabs are nice, and something you could do ahead of time. That, with a couscous salad or pasta salad, might work.

Vegetarian spaghetti bolognese - just substitute crumbled tofu or quorn for the meat.

Soup and salad - any combo. I like corn chowder with spinach, pea and feta salad with olive oil and lemon juice dressing.

Pizzas? Just buy mini pizza shells and add toppings: can also do meat versions for the carnivorse! I like feta, leek and tomato.

Hot and sour stir-fry with cabbage and green beans.

Thai Green Curry.

A really good recipe book is Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian, as it's quite diverse. 

My favorite BBQ dish is a roasted onion. Get the biggest onion, cut it like a blooming onion, shove garlic gloves in some of the slots, top with seasoned salt. Wrap that in foil and then put on the side of the BBQ while other stuff is cooking.  It blooms open and tastes gorgeous.  I think it takes about an hour to cook.  You can also do corn on the cob sprinkled with chili powder and roast it on the BBQ as well.

As a side dish, sauteeds mushrooms are the easiest.  Small cap mushrooms either sliced or whole, put in a pan with a little butter, stock (either beef or veggie) and a splash of soy sauce.  Just lightly boil until tender.

~BEG

I also make a butternut squash sauce baked with spaghetti or linguine and loads of cheese, I think I posted the recipe on here for someone else recently.

This is absolutely lovely!  I am now making it for my family and they love it too!

That's so cool! I'm glad you like it!! 

If the weather stays nasty  , what about jacket potatoes with an assortment of toppings for lunch?

The Greek/Middle Eastern spread is something that's been popular with my family, too--I've done tabouli, hummus, pita, cucumber slices/bell pepper sticks/cherry tomatoes/olives, tzatziki, and homemade felafel. The last takes a while to prep and is a bit of pain (deep-frying) but is totally delicious. Spanakopita might be another idea. I've made a sort of crustless variation that's great for crowds but it does have eggs in it.

My favorite "dressy" dish is crepes, if you don't mind making the pancakes or can buy good ones. Spinach, ricotta, and feta filling is a favorite, and I have a smashing recipe with butternut squash, leeks, endive, goat cheese, and walnuts that I make for Thanksgiving. Sounds strange, but it's been thoroughly tested on a wide spectrum of picky people and they've all loved it!

One of my favorite websites is vegetarianepicure.com. Click on new recipes, then recipe archive. Just about everything I've made has been fab, and they tend to feed lots of people.

You've had some fab suggestions here, so I don't really have anything to add except ... wow, what houseguests!!! My only suggestion would be to pretend you're busy that weekend!   

I hear what you're saying!!   They're really all quite lovely people -- just a bit tricky navigating what MIL/SIL can/can't/will/won't eat.  Thing is, when we visit MIL/FIL - she's a wonderful cook & totally caters to us meat-eaters, usually only making a little veg tart tatin or lentil surprise on the side for herself & SIL.  Since it's MIL's special day/weekend & SIL will be present, I'm trying to swing things the other way a bit.  And we'll have fish & all on the days after BIL/SIL leave.  (Plus MIL might even take over in the kitchen for the week - you never know!)

Waiting for DH right now to confirm exactly when BIL/SIL are arriving & departing on Saturday & Sunday to see exactly what we need to arrange for meals.  MIL's birthday is actually on Sunday, so it may be we take everyone out for a nice pub lunch that day instead -- meaning we cook lunch & dinner on Saturday.  Or, we might go out Saturday night, in which case only two lunches to be cooked ourselves.

Wonderful suggestions everyone!  I'll keep you posted on what transpires & what's arranged -- all other suggestions still welcomed too!

For one of the meals, I'd just make a load of pizza crust dough and put out a ton of different toppings and just let everyone make their own.  That should take care of at least one lunch or dinner!