christening buffet ideas on tight budget

FuturemrsH

We have booked christening for our baby , have church then local social club but I need to supply a buffet for roughly 50 adults. To be honest I'd like to do it for less than £40, is it possible? I will happily bake buns scones and cakes but I'd like to try keep it simple with the menu. I was thinking could I just do sandwiches and cakes? Any savoury ideas that are super cheap I could do? Thank you

FrugalQueen

Hi FuturemrsH,
I think this is doable but I'm usually rubbish with quantities and make far too much. I would suggest say a double/treble batch of cake mix - make some cupcakes and then with half of mix make a lemon drizzle cake or even a Victoria Sponge. A chocolate tray bake could make about 24 finger slices. I usually try and do a selection and maybe a tea loaf. First of all check your cupboards to see what ingredients you already have and maybe plan around these, I always buy the cheapest SR flour as most of my recipes add baking powder and they always come out fine. How about roasted chicken drumsticks, homemade quiche, sausage rolls, pork pies for a selection of savouries? and everybody loves crisps! Also would recommend checking out prices in A*di & I*eland as I find so much cheaper.
Hope this helps, also consider other family members - who like to bake as I am sure they would love to contribute to the occasion and share the workload. Above all, don't get stressed with the catering and enjoy celebrating your baby's christening. Hope this helps

Spendless

Are you having a cake? Either making one yourself or someone else doing one? If so,I wouldn't go overboard on the sweet items and concentrate more of your budget on the savoury stuff.

ceebeeby

Keep an eye to for whoopsie chickens and make into huge bowl o f heap chicken pasta for about £2 tops

PoppyGirl

Do you have the facilites to serve hot soup? You could do soup and sandwitches fairly cheaply, then cupcakes.

I also think asking for help would be a great plan, get all family members to make a dish.

LV_Sue

I would suggest just providing finger foods. Having catered for many family & other functions over the years I find people don't usually want to bother with foods that need to be eaten with a fork or spoon, especially if there are not enough tables to sit at comfortably. I've lost count of the bowls of pasta or potato salad I've thrown away!

Is it possible to rope in a few friends/family members to help with the catering?

A few tried & tested suggestions.................
Ready made large sausage rolls cut into 4 or 6 pieces, sausages ditto, cheese & pineapple on sticks (very 70s I know, and a bit fiddly but usually goes down well), sandwiches with a mixture of fillings e.g. grated cheese (goes further), egg mayonnaise, whoopsied chicken/ham and maybe some bowls of cherry tomatoes if you can buy them cheaply enough. Cheap dips with carrot sticks and celery and cucumber (if cheap or on offer). Bowls of own brand crisps etc. either to dip or just munch on.
Cupcakes or traybakes cut into fingers.