party help

radiohelen

OK so it's my lo's first birthday party this weekend. I figured we should invite the family over because it's polite and they've only ALL bl**dy well said they are coming.......the weather looks dodgy so it's got to be indoor food rather than just barbecue and the kids are ALL picky.

So there will be 15-20 people there - yes I know I'm daft and I'm going to have to make a bigger cake cos the Good Food one I lovingly made last week and put in the freezer feeds 12 - I'm after ideas that don't cost the earth that can feed this hoard.
I know I can rely on you to help cos you are brimming with ideas for this kind of situation....:D All help gratefully received.

Ambersuccubus

Hmm...lets see - if you can lay your hands on some spuds, crispy potato skins and dips go quite a long way for not much - you could freeze the potato middles after cooking for later use, or use them in a recipe.
salads, expecially pasta salad - again, you can stretch cheap pasta a long way with a decent olive oil, black pepper, tomatoes and olives/fresh herbs.

Home made pasties/sos rolls if you have time...I'm veggie most of the time, so make mushroom pasties or use sosmix, which is very economical as a filling - I've been known to make 40 sos rolls (party size) from a pack.

And to stretch the cake - why not make some mini muffins and pile alongside in an artful display - make it look deliberate! Egg free recipes are available online etc (google vegan muffins), and whilst you might have to translate from the american, are often easier and cheaper than conventional baking...

jackieglasgow

OOh I did a big long one and lost it!

I second the potato skins. Alternatively, whoosied crusty bread reheated with soup or half baked potatoes with chilli and/or cheese and salad can be done cheaply, and will be tasty and filling.

For your cake, why not try making a giant cookie - the millies recipe on page 1 of the grocery challenge is fab, we did this this year for a cheap and original (for us) birthday cake for my son. His brother decorated it, and when we ran out on the day, it took 15minutes to make another for the adults. It slices like a pizza, which is quite quirky and everyone seems to like, and if you wanted to go all out, you could get a pizza box from the local takeaway and decorate it or get your other children to, to match your theme or your child's interests.

Have fun!

chnelomi

Cold pasta recipes are a fav of mine when all the family hit at once most of the mixes (like tuna or tomato n basil egg mayo etc) can be made the day before and refrigerated then on the day boil and cool the pasta then mix together when ready to eat. i always put loads of salad out too with dips and tortilla chips. Left over pasta mix can be used for sandwiches or bagettes cut up small looks best and is filling. They also work out great if the weather is nice as they compliment a BBQ.

Butterfly_Brain

How about a nice vegetable rice. some chicken portions (nice and cheap) marinated yoghurt and honey is lovely and so is bbq or peri peri.
samosas, onion bhajis,sweetcorn fritters,dim sum and potato salad are good side dishes.
Make some salad up
New potatoes roasted with either maple syrup or rosemary and garlic,
sausages cut into pieces with some dips,
cheese wrapped with streaky bacon on skewers with mushrooms, peppers and chicken cubes.
Serve fresh fruit salad with ice cream or make a nice big trifle

Essex-girl_2

I also like a cheese & pate board at our parties, serve with french bread or crackers, decorate with grapes and apples.

As stated before - pasta salad, very filling & also easy to eat. HM coleslaw & potato salad is a must (in our house)and coronation chicken always seems popular. Chicken drumsticks, barbeque ribs. HM sausage rolls are lovely and seem much more filling than shop ones. Lots of crips n nibbles. We also have hummous with sliced pitta bread.

I love cooking for buffets and its my favourite food to eat too.

Fourcandles_3

Depending on your family, could you say it's bring a plate? Each household contribute something?

At that age the party is really about the family getting together and most people would be happy to do this.