Help required! Party ideas, please!!

joshieg3011

Hi all,

In September we are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We are having a party for around 20 friends in the house. Depending on the weather, this will either be in the form of a BBQ or, if forecast to be rain, a buffet.

Does anyone have any ideas for food which can be easily prepared in advance of the party? I would like hot food to be served too but don't want to spend the whole time at the party cooking this!! I am also unsure as to portion amounts to cater for 20 people.

Your ideas are greatly appreciated!!

cmazza

For hot food I would suggest doing something in 1 pot, either on the hob or in the oven, something like a lasagne might be nice with salad as that is quite summery. I would suggest curry but rice can be a bit dodgy and one of the main causes for upset stomachs. Maybe a casserrol or stew but that might be a bit wintery. A warm tart like aspagagus and cheese or red onion and goats cheese. HTH.

Seakay

leek and potato soup = hot if the weather is bad, cold and call it vichyssoise if it is hot!
Serve in cups so you are giving portions about one third normal size - so a double quantity for 4 should do it - triple quantity if you think it will require seconds.
In the same way - serve stew or casserole in small cups or party pudding bowls (sort you make jelly in for kids?)(mini food is still very popular) put tiny tiny (say a ring of half inch diameter ones) scones on top and call it mini-cobbler
Cut circles out of sliced bread and bake them in very low oven until crisp but barely coloured. Use as base for spreads etc.
For a drinks party allow 5-6 little hors d'oeuvres per person.
For a party where a meal is expected then 4 hors d'oervres and 2 or 3 larger things (stew, pudding, burger)

Do you have a gazebo or similar? If so barbie whatever the weather!

ubamother

I'm a bit fan of ribs - cheap as chips (well nearly). Buy them in racks and simmer gently in water with onion/garlic/peppercorns/star anise/bay leaf (whichever or whatever you have). when fully cooked you can freeze like this, or leave to cool then marinate in whatever you fancy - garlic/mustard/tomato puree or sauce/worcestershire sauce, honey - any mixture that has acid and sweetness. These are great in a hot oven or barbecue and much meatier and tender than if you barbied them or roasted them from raw. These with breads, salads and maybe some potato wedges and corn on the cob would be fab whatever the weather.

parsonswife8

For a barbeque, I would do burger patties and sausages and serve round soft rolls as well as hotdog rolls, for burgers and hotdogs. Serve tomato sauce, brown sauce, mayonaise and mustard, as well as sliced tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber. Let guests make their own.
For hot food, I would make a lasagne and get some pizzas, serve with a green salad and slices of garlic bread.
Pudding could be Eton mess seeing as strawberries can be gotten quite cheaply now. Crumble some meringue nests, add chopped strawberries and whipped cream.

EstherH

A large pan of chilli or bolognaise and baked potatoes, plus some grated cheese and salads could all be prepared in advance.
Baked potatoes will keep hot if wrapped in tin foil and put in a picnic bag/box, so oven can then be used again.

cmazza

Some really good ideas here, hope you find something you want to do. Love the sound of the ribs might give them a go when the weather improves. Baked potatoes are also a great idea.

joshieg3011

Thanks to everyone who has replied - to be honest they all sound so good, I don't think it will be very MSE as I want to try them all!

Thanks again!!

radiohelen

We did a big family do the other weekend when the weather was a bit iffy... decided BBQ would mean me slaving over a BBQ and all the salads and stuff so we had a mini hog roast instead.

I did a massive (feeds 20) pork joint. Stuck it in the oven at 6.30am on hot for half an hour and then down to a low temperature, cover in foil and leave to cook until 1pm.

Bread rolls

Sainos basics stuffing 17p a pack

Homemade apple sauce

Green Salad from the allotment

Lots of Roast potatoes.

Big tomato, basil and mozarella salad

Massive vanilla cake with chocolate frosting, a couple of hm cheesecakes.

JD....:D

Happy rellies, happy me cos I don't have to do all that much actual work.

HTH

UnluckyT

Probably depends on freezer/fridge space plus time spare between now and then esp to look for good deals.
if you have a local bucthers, check for what they have as some i think do bbq packs, or packs of chicken thighs in some sort of coating such as garlic and herb.
good idea to get whoopsies you can freeze, esp bread rolls/meat. or salad items, potatoes nearer the time? might sound strange but pizza, cooked, cut and plated up along with garlic bread. agree with jacket spuds. maybe try icland for some stuff if you dont mind thier food? sometimes do a good bargain for bbqs, puds and things like sausage rolls and so on that can just be cooked and plated for a buffet?
pasta salad, coleslaw, potatoe salad, fruit salad, perhaps a punnet or two of grapes or strawberries if you can get them cheap enough with some cream or creme freche?

zippychick

here is a list of Links i found from an old post by Pink winged , thanks Pink

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I'll merge this later

good luck
Zip