Buffet instead of Xmas Dinner

financegirl

This year we've decided to have a Xmas buffet on Xmas Day instead of a sit down dinner.

Basically with 10 of us it's always too much for mum, and we thought this year we'd have more of a party theme and have a lovely buffet instead.

I'd love some suggestions for Xmas Party food, all we can think of at the mo is quiche, sausages, cold meat etc etc which is a bit boring.

Thanks in advance

hostertlady

i have to say- i find making a dinner a lot easier than a buffet, however if i was having a buffet i would go for cold meats( turkey, pork,) i would cook a nice gammon ham and leave it whole on the table, i would put an assortment of differents types of rolls, lots of salad and coleslaw type things, pickles, etc. a huge cheese board and of course nuts, tortillas and crisps, dont forget to addsome stuffing and cranberry sauce for the xmas factor!:rotfl:
good luck

financegirl

thanks hostertlady.

the reason we've having a buffet is that way every person can bring a couple of dishes and it's not dumped on one person (mum) to provide the whole spread.

forgot to say, about a third of the guests are very health conscious, one dish I was thinking of doing is a massive tray of winter roasting veggies, chucking in some diced potatoes, then adding sprigs of fresh rosemary, drizzling olive oil over the top and then put some sea salt and cracked blacked pepper on as well, as just bung it in the oven for an hour - apparently it's delicous and very low fat (as long as you go easy on the oilve oil!!!):rotfl:

haylibo

Roast veg is lovely. If you have the old Delhia book, the complete one, there is a great rice salad dish in there that can be made ahead and is full of apple, sultanas (I think from memory) so reasonably festive at a stretch of imagination. Chutney, yum. Mini jacket potatoes with sour cream, a bit more wieldy than the big version. Pork pie. Sausages in bacon. Delhia's parmesan parsnips are so tasty and can be made diced. Vol au vents with cheese sauce and bacon bits are tasty and fattening. A good combo. I'm getting hungry.
Hayles

madoldbat

What a nice idea.Well done ,a great treat for your mum :T
How about corrination chicken,salmon mouse,potted shrimp,roast med veg,asstd breads,rice salad,couscus,pasta salad and good old green & potatoe salad.
Cheese board,fresh fruit,mince pies,trifal,cheese cake .
I know the next bit is not eco freindly but use good quality dissposable plates and glasses.They must be good quality or they wont look nice and wont last the meal (cheap ones go soggy yuk!)That way very little washing up;)
Oh! almost forgot Delias chocolate torte from her xmas book.Dead easy.
Have a good time.:beer:

haylibo

"Oh! almost forgot Delias chocolate torte from her xmas book.Dead easy" oh no, tiramissu surely lol. Yummmmmm.

Hayles

financegirl

bumped up for more healthy ideas please:beer:

NBirdy

Some part-baked bread so people can have it fresh out of the oven? Lovely cheeses, home-made chutney, fresh fruit salad or fruit kebabs with cream/chocolate dips for the less health conscious.

Or cheat totally and buy party food from M+S, Iceland etc

haylibo

Oh missed the healthy part, pork pie out then. How about a tagine? Can be made in a standard pot and contains lots of beans and veg. Cous cous is great to go with it, cheap too. Have you tried Nigella's double potato bake? She adds in lots of veg but we do a quick version here with cut up white and sweet potato (making the sweet potato pieces larger because they cook faster), oil and roast. When pretty much done dot with bits of halloumi cheese and stick into the oven until cheese has melted. If you keep the cheese down it's reasonably healthy.

It's difficult for buffets, everything 'finger food' size is full of fat or made with white flour and has fat piled on. Pitta pockets are handy and healthy if you get wholewheat. Chicken goujons..breasts into strips, dipped in egg and then a breadcrumb and parmesan mix before oven baking for 15 mins, are tasty. We have six here and when we have visitors we often make tortillas. We buy the wraps and then grill chicken and beef strips. Shred lettuce, cut up tomatoes, fry pepper strips in some spice (we have piri piri in at the moment so that's what we use but not truly authentic mexican :-)), add guacamole or avocado mashed with lime juice and chilli which I find tastier than shop bought guac, some salsa bought or made and sour cream or creme freche. It's quick to prepare and everyone can go for the balance of ingredients they like.
Hayles