Simple Dinner Meals Help The Sandwich Generation Issues of Unexpected Company

Memorial Day, Father's Day and the Fourth of July are all behind us. There are no more holidays until Labor Day. But there's a whole long, hot, and fun summer stretching before each of us in the Sandwich Generation as we squish in summer fun activities for grandparents and their grandchildren along with caring for elderly parents. Not to mention unexpected guests on vacation.

Fun family memories are often made at BBQs and picnics throughout the summer. But with all the responsibilities we are juggling, it can be really hard to add hospitality to the mix. Ta da! SandwichINK to the rescue. Here's one of my tasty, fun, and downright simple dinner meals that has worked well for me in the past few years.

Purchase:

• Hot Dogs – at least 4 packs
• Hot Dog Buns – at least 4 bags
• 4 cans of Baked Beans
• Catsup
• Mustard
• Pickle Relish
• Potato chips – 2 bags
• Tortilla Chips – 2 bags
• Jar of Pace Picante Sauce
• Sodas and a cannister of Lemonade mix
• Two packages of your favorite cookies
• Package of paper plates
• Package of plastic cups
• Package of picnic silverware

You now have all the fixings for one or more simple and tasty family dinner meals that is ready with little or no notice. Just keep the hot dogs and buns in the freezer and the chips hidden away from your temptations  and you're well set for any unexpected fun and frivolity. You can barbecue the hot dogs, microwave them, or even throw them in a pan. And if the summer ends with no chance for company, you can add these into your regular menu plan over the next few months, knowing that – thanks to inflation – you probably made a bit of a profit on the deal. Then reprepare for next summer.

If you have some advance notice and want to get a little fancier, you can substitute or add to all the above:

• An already roasted chicken (we love the wholesale clubs like Sam's Club and Costco, as well as Kroger's)
• Potato salad (Sam's Club's red potato salad is scrumptious)
• Broccli and baby carrots
• Strawberries
• Angel Food Cake

Either way, I set everything out as a buffet and let everyone help themselves. It's easy set-up, easy clean-up, and quite tasty. And just about everyone enjoys both of these meals, from the most senior of our elderly relatives, to the youngest of our grandchildren. It's been a perfect "recipe" for success for the Sandwich Generation issues of my family, I can tell you!

One other thing. Don't do what we too often do and get so busy that you forget to take lots of photos with your easy to use digital camera!!!! I can't tell you the number of times we've moaned that none of us remembered to take pictures!

Now, it's your turn. What are your easy tips for juggling company with caring for elderly parents and grandkids?

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Tagged as: easy to use digital camera, family memories, grandkids, granny nanny, senior citizens, summer fun activities for grandparents and their grandchildren, The never-aging baby boomers generation caring for elderly parents, the sandwich generation issues