Help - hosting an engagement party

Maddie

We've having a party this Saturday to celebrate our recent engagement:j, and was hoping for some advice.

I reckon we're going to have about 30-40 people, which in our 1 bedroom flat will be a challenge in itself!

I'm going to put on some food, thinking chilli with rice or jacket potato, HM pizza that I can prepare beforehand then just shove in the oven.

Any ideas of one other big pan dish I can put on, I've got a big slow cooker (that I've not used yet!), and another huge pan, so should be able to cope.

What other buffet dishes can I make from scratch?

Any other party tips?

purpleivy

potato wedges with dips.. mayo, ketchup whatever are always popular in our house.

Pink.

Hi Maddie,

Congratulations on your engagement!

You might get some ideas from these older threads:

Ideas for really cheap easy Buffet food please!!

FINGER BUFFET for my birthday party

Buffet Ideas

Christening Buffet ideas?

Help ! Planning small buffet birthday party for 17, NEVER done anything like this ? !

Pink

chaseside

Congratulations on your engagement.

What about a hotpot, this could be made in your slow cook.Served with red cabbage & pickles.
I also make a very large Lasagne in advance which can just be warmed up on the night.Great with garlic bread.
Both always go down well,especially in the cold weather.

Enjoy.!!

Maddie

Thank you so much for the tips, I'm inspired!

I plan to make something along the lines of;

chilli
stew - exactly what depends on what veg i get in my box tomo and what joint of meat i can get.
will prob do stew in the slow cooker and chilli in the big casserole dish

jacket pots
potato wedges
sausage rolls - if i buy pork mince can i make my own sausage meat?
hm hommous/guacamole/salsa
veg sticks
hm pizza
tomato bread in the bread maker
mini toad in the hole
salads
mini quiches
cheese straws
cheese and pinapple
nuts
popcorn
french stick
cheese platter

fairy cakes
flapjack
biscuits
fruit
chocolate crispies

(won't really be all that - but its inspiration at least!)

Wow, now i just need a bout 10 clones of me, a kitchen three times bigger, a food processor, more pans and something to slow down time!

Maddie

Can I make a rice salad today and store in the fridge for tomorrow?

Whatt about hummos, guacamole and raita - recipes say serve immediately, but will they be ok in the fridge overnight?

Thanks, Maddie

thriftmonster

Guacamole will discolour if you make it more than 1/2hr in advance. Hoummous gets better overnight. I would probably make the rice salad on the day and keep it in the fridge.

Maddie

I posted this in the slow cooker recipe thread, but no replies yet - can anyone help?

Hi, I'm using my slow cooker for the first time tomorrow to make some sort of stew/casserole for my engagement part - got about 30-40 people coming eek!

I plan to buy a joint of meat (prob lamb) then add lots of random veg, carrots, potatos, swede, courgette etc.

I've also got brocolli, cabbage & cauliflower, can i add these or will it just make a soggy mess?

Also, I'm a bit confused, the book says to ensure its all fully covered with water, but if as i've read above the veg releases water - isn't this going to be too wet?