Need ms ideas for buffet for 50

bonar

doing a buffet soon , party is for 70 but thought I would make buffet for 50. does this sound ok. also need to do it as cheaply as I can, any ideas and help gratefully received

Ambersuccubus

bonar wrote: »

doing a buffet soon , party is for 70 but thought I would make buffet for 50. does this sound ok. also need to do it as cheaply as I can, any ideas and help gratefully received

Let's see...crispy potato skins are good for volume, home made sausage (or "sossage" for vegetarians) rolls, hm hummus and other bean dips with crudites (celery and carrot are cheaper than peppers) and hm breadsticks.

When my husband and I catered our friends' wedding for 50, we also did oven baked savoury tofu (bit like tofu jerky), but unless you make your own tofu, that could be pricy. May I suggest pease pudding (with or without a home cooked ham) - I am from the north east, and you can't have a party occasion there without it! (plus it's dirt cheap to make, being mainy split yellow peas!).
Pasta/rice salad may also be your friend here...

bonar

was thinking about home cooked ham and home made sausage rolls, , tofu would be a no no Im afraid. also thought about costco as I have heard they do catering sized quiches, (never been but friend has a card, not sure how expensive they would be though)

Ambersuccubus

You might want to try making your own if you can lay your hands on proper quiche tins...my o/h reckons a large quiche suitable for parties etc can be made for only a few quid IF you have the right tools

alsl

I'd say make 2 huge curries & loadsa rice with sliced fresh fruit & dips for after.
does it have to be a buffet? they're hard work & usually boring!!

bonar

not only a buffet but has to be cold, I have no access to ovens etc at venue, cant even make tea or coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ambersuccubus

Well, if you really wanted curries, you could do them in huge pans, then haybox them 'til required. Would probably have to be with breads (naan, roti etc) rather than rice though, as rice is too risky food poisoning wise...

bonar

and this is where I reveal that I have never done this before, whats a haybox, sorry

Ambersuccubus

It's when you take a hot cooking dish and insulate it so it stays hot/cooks more. Can be done with a bale of hay! (or polystyrene/other insulating material)

bonar

thanks for that. not too sure about the curry idea, much prefer the ham, etc. its a 25th birthday so lots of age groups there including my mother and her friends who definitely are too old school for curry. Im really nervous about this party, so I think the simpler the better. I have a great recipe for ham cooked in coke (nigella) always goes down well, normally i would raid markies (I know, not money saving) but definitely cannot afford to do that this time. so home cooking it has too be.

NiceGuyEddie_2

Definitely offer lots of 'carby' things that fill people up, alongside the meats. I absolutely love Nigella's recipe for ham, can't get enough of it, so definitely serve that. You can't have a party without sausage rolls, so they're a good call too.

I'd also do cooked sausages (full size, then halved) on a platter with mustard and a nice ketchup, and chicken drumsticks.

Then either HM potato wedges or potato skins, a big bowl of pasta in either a tomato + basil sauce or pesto, both of which are inexpensive. Add in a few sliced french sticks

For sweet stuff, you could go retro and have jelly and ice cream - jelly is so, so cheap and if you have enough fridge space to make it, then pour the portions into disposable cups and serve like that. Bannoffe pie and cheesecake can be cheap to make if you use value ingredients, but to cut down on work Tescos have an offer on pavlova atm (2 for £3).

Try Aldi/Lidl for crisps and breadsticks etc