My suggestion would be a hearty beef vegetable soup, a loaf of crusty delicious bread, perhaps a salad, and a bottle of wine or two. A hearty but relaxing dinner for you all. And, a forgiving one if they’re running late.

I recommend this ALL the time but it really is delicious and if you take the 5 min to arrange the shrimp to stand up, it really does look this great. It takes barely 15 min to cook so you can prepare ahead, chat with your visitors and stick it in the oven when you are just about ready to eat. I like it alone with salad and also with linguine. Add bread and wine and you're set ... steamed asparagus is also very nice with it.

Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe | Ina Garten | Food Network

I haven't made it but I have the impression that Ina's Boeuf Bourguignon is very good (and easy) also.

I would probably make lasagna. It's easy to prep and cooks in the oven without having to tend to it. Add a salad and crusty bread and the meal is complete.

I've been on a Swedish meatball kick. With pickled cukes, eggnoodles and lingonberry preserves. Marcus Samuelson's recipe from Aquavit.

Pot roast with root veggies is easy but it does require a couple hours in the dutch oven. This is the recipe I use but I use chuck roast not brisket and I prefer carrots, rutabagas and parsnips but carrots and potatoes are fine too. I always have to have something green so usually serve with green beans.

onion smothered pot roast

This has been a longtime (very easy) favorite at our house - can be made ahead minus the kale and tortellini. It's very hearty - usually serve with a salad and good, crusty bread. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cheese-tortellini-soup-with-cannellini-kielbasa-and-kale

Short ribs braised in red wine over mash, polenta or (store bought) gnocchi , is not really complex but hearty and a little bit elevated.

Sorry, mine is not difficult but it isnt really simple

Thanks everyone - great suggestions! I am going to take a look at some of the linked recipes and see what might be at my level.

Funky - I love that shrimp scampi recipe but I think my SIL does not eat shellfish either. I made it over the holidays last year and it was delicious.

mtn - "Sweedish meatballs...With pickled cukes, eggnoodles and lingonberry preserves. Marcus Samuelson's recipe from Aquavit." I'm 100% sure this is delicious but I'm also pretty sure you don't do simple. I'm not really sure I know what a lingonberry is, ha ha.

ajuju - that soup recipe looks really good so I bookmarked it to make next week. I can't eat kale so I would, as others suggested in the comments section of the link, substitute spinach and add it at the end. That would be a great soup to have on a cold night with company.

LOL Lingonberriy preserves are usually bought in a jar here. It is very similar to cranberry sauce and serves the same purpose, cutting richness.

I'm a fan of chili. I usually do vegetarian, and I don't have a formal recipe, but you can do variations on a theme.

Constants:

1 med onion, chopped

1 30-oz can of crushed tomatoes

6 cloves of garlic (more or less), minced

Lots of cumin (a tablespoon or more, to taste)

Lots of chili powder (a tablespoon or more, to taste)

Options:

Fresh bell pepper (or Anaheim chile or poblano chili), chopped

Corn (either a 8 oz or 15-oz can), drained-these add nice color and texture

Canned chipotle chilis in adobo to taste (warning: Hot!)

New Mexico chili powder, chipotle chili powder, and/or cayenne to taste (for more heat)

Meat and/or beans

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed and browned on the stovetop; OR
• 2 lbs ground beef, browned on the stovetop; OR
• 2 lbs Ground chicken or turkey; OR
• Three 15-oz cans of beans, drained and rinsed (you can mix varieties; I like Navy, black, and chickpeas); OR
• Any combination of the above to get about the same volume of stuff

Throw it all in a crockpot on low for 4 hours or more.

I usually serve with rice (if you chili is hot, this can tone it down) or you can serve it with cornbread. If you want to be fancy, you can top it with shredded cheese, chopped onion, or sour cream.

Easy, and holds well if you aren't sure when your guests will arrive.

mtn - I will need to enroll in your remedial cooking class! Thanks for the tip and I will now look for lingonberry in my stores.

Again - you all are the best! So many of these sound perfect. I like the idea of a beef vegetable soup, pot roast w/veggies, short ribs (too advanced?) and the sausage/tortellini soup. I also found this Ina Garten recipe that sounded easy but since they are not vegetarians, would the lack of a protein be an issue?

Ina Garten Winter Minestrone

All of these ideas would be great with a crusty bread, salad and lots of wine :)

All great suggestions. I think anyting braised would fit your requirements - pot roast, beef stew, https://www.themediterraneandish.com/braised-chicken-thighs-recipe and just some good bread and a salad and wine. Lots of wine!

I think the minestrone would be good - pancetta is pork.

Beef/lamb/venison/pork stew and hot biscuits is a good one when it's cold outside. I like fennel bulb, carrots or winter squash, potatoes, green beans, onions, garlic and some tomatoes in mine - along with lots of fresh parsley.

I'd have something fresh on the side - either a green salad or fresh fruit - or both.

Marthastewart.com is one of my fave sources for dependable classic and fairly easy recipes.

Oh my gosh, I really do need the remedial cooking class! I didn't even see the pancetta in the minestrone recipe...

This is precisely why I usually take people out to dinner!

I bookedmarked the minestrone but only because I love pancetta!

Since pasta is your default, I would do baked ziti. Much easier than lasagna. Get a frozen garlic bread and make a large salad.

Chili with various toppings, easy jiffy mix corn bread. ( I like the cooykat Boston Chicken cornbread recipe)

I do a very easy chicken kiev that is baked not fried. You put it together in the morning and then pop in the oven. I like to it with couscous and a green vegetable. You can also have a salad too.

Ruby, I am similar. I’m not a gourmet cook like many are here, but I have developed a few go-to's.

Find the best Italian place in your town and buy lasagna from them. I make good lasagna from scratch…even the ”gravy.” However, I’ve found a place that makes much better lasagna and they sell it by the pan, half-pan, etc. It ain’t cheap, but it is easy. The place I buy from will sell it to you cooked or uncooked.

Spend your time on bread, salad, and dessert.

the short ribs are as easy or easier than the stew. basically browning the meat, adding aromatics and herbs, wine and broth cover and cook for several hours until done. they just seem more advance or fancier, which is the whole trick.

If you are thinking pasta, this Ina Garten recipe might be one of the best I've ever had. And it is easy!!!

Rigatoni with Italian Sausage and Fennel

My favorite is to do as much ahead of time as possible and serve food that will wait until everyone is ready to eat.

Do you have a crock pot? Burgundy beef (bouef bourguignon) in a crock pot is simple and so tender and tasty. (Such as this: https://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2016/10/easy-crockpot-beef-burgundy.html if you are ok with canned soup and onion mix.) Makes its own gravy and serve over buttered egg noodles with a sprinkle of parsley. A side salad such as spring mix with some sliced cucumbers, campari tomatoes, diced red pepper and sliced radish (I make the salad ahead of time except the tomatoes which I add just before serving) with make-ahead balsamic vinaigrette (https://www.loveandlemons.com/balsamic-vinaigrette/#wprm-recipe-container-60711). Some crusty bread with butter. If you want side veggies, blanch green beans ahead of time (hericot vert to be fancy) and just before serving, toss in a fry pan in olive oil and minced garlic and pinch of ground thyme, salt & pepper. Or do oven roasted vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower which you can cut up and coat in oil and spices ahead of time and put in the oven 30 min before serving time.

You didn't ask about dessert, but there are a lot of quick desserts available. I like to use fancy glasses and will serve good coffee ice cream with a drizzle of real maple syrup and chopped walnuts. Or make a fruit compote ahead of time (such as mixed berries: strawberry and blueberry https://milkfreemom.com/easy-strawberry-blueberry-compote/?doing_wp_cron=1673609697.9588820934295654296875) which can be served over ice cream or sliced store bought pound cake. Or just go to the bakery and buy cannolis.

For appetizers, some cheeses (love smoked gouda) and crackers works well. I like to slice up cucumber and serve that with sliced hard salami wedges. I usually put out some carrot sticks, mixed nuts and a bowl of grapes too.

While it seems like a lot, because it's mostly prepared ahead of time, most of the kitchen mess is gone before they get there, it's simple to serve, and allows you to spend time with your guests.

Well, it is Friday morning and I still don't know what I will serve but I am bookmarking this thread because you all have provided so many stellar suggestions. Including bbstx's "buy the lasagna and focus on bread and salad"!

I'm going to touch base with them this morning and get a better idea of thier arrival time and confirm any current dietary restrictions. Then narrow these down and make a decision. Thank you all so much!

ps - Annie - that coffee ice cream dessert sounds yummy, too.

Nekotish, I am totally making that https://www.themediterraneandish.com/braised-chicken-thighs-recipe for dinner tonight. Have you ever made the Lebanese rice with it? Looks yummy.

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/lebanese-rice-with-vermicelli/

The chicken sounds good...similar to what I make for company, only I usually don't add the fruit...unless I'm making tsimmes...but the OP's request was no chicken...and I'm assuming no pork as she didn't mention that either...only fish or beef.

One really quick and fancy thing to serve, though not cheap, is stuffed fillet of sole from a fish market. Just put on a baking sheet, dot with butter, sprinkle of paprika, and into the oven. Have some fresh lemon wedges on the side for serving. A side salad, some crunchy bread and butter and you're all set.

@mtnrdredux_gw I have made the chicken twice, once with the Lebanese rice, which was great, the other time I lazied out and just made plain brown rice.

Of course, really easy...last dinner party I had, I wanted to serve chicken parm as I figured the kids would eat it....but didn't want to make it. So I went to a local popular restaurant, ordered a tray, brought it home and put it in my own casserole dish to bake off. Had I been asked, I would've said where it came from, but no one asked, and I didn't tell. I still had enough work to do with the salad, dressing, side vegetables, bread, dessert, and appetizers.

i enthusiastically recommend Half Baked Harvest recipes. I am working my way through her Everyday cookbook and its all delicious

That sounds like a wonderful night Rubyclaire!

Thanks for the update--I'm so glad you enjoyed the evening.

So glad it went well!

Annie - I even bought coffee ice cream but no one had room for dessert. I guess I'll have to eat it :).