Suggestions for family buffet lunch

Oddly enough I did a dinner party for 11 last night.

The menu was ......a range of nibbles for starters, mushroom vol au vents, mini sausages, falafels, all served hot, with cold mini pork pies, breadsticks and crackers and those dip things, olives, chopped beetroot, baby tomatoes.

The main was a chilli cooked the day before, a lamb casserole which i had cooked the week before and frozen. Both dishes just needed reheating, chicken drumsticks, new baby potatoes (no peeling) a big "everything in it salad" and then dishes of potato salad, coleslaw (I cheated and bought those), garlic bread, rice and couscous.

Deserts were cold....tarte citron, ice cream and mint Chocolate curls.

It was simplicity itself. There was no waste and very few leftovers, some chilli which I froze and some potatoes which I can eat over the next couple of days.

The beauty of casserole type dishes is they can be cooked in advance and just reheated.

Chilli might not be an option but you could do shepherds pie or a nice beef casserole, or as someone else suggested either a pork or beef joint done in a slow cooker. And most people seem to like chicken.

To keep costs down be sure to shop at Aldi or Lidl.

I did use paper plates and they were fine. I bought a pack of 50 from Asda for £1.25 so had enough for people to change to clean plates and even double up if they felt the need. I only used paper because I have recently had a smashing time in the kitchen and was down to 4 plates and hadnt got round to an Ikea trip. I did use proper cutlery though. I must admit I agree that I think real Crockery and cutlery is actually better.

(If it helps I noticed Sainsbury's currently have table ware on sale at half price, not sure how long the sale is on for).

2 people didn't want tea or coffee so I served teas and coffees from a dainty China 8 piece tea set I had picked up at a charity shop for £5. It was very pretty and the subject of much admiration.

PasturesNew wrote: »

Will people be seated, or half standing/perching on the arm of a chair where they can get a room?

What works well will, in part, be dictated to whether everybody's seated adequately, or if several/many will be having to "make do" and wedge their plate on a windowsill or keep holding it while standing up.

That's right and the plate situation is similar. A paper plate is OK if you're sitting at a table but limited if you're standing up. OP says the guests are 'older generation' so it's something to consider.

When I host a big family party, I don't have room for everyone to sit around one table but I do have enough chairs and most people have a table to lean on even if they're in different rooms. Garden furniture can be brought indoors if necessary and that's easily borrowed from neighbours too.

I would go for good value ingredients that make more than more thing, e.g. you could buy:

Sausage meat
Puff pastry
Cream cheese
Smoked salmon trimmings
Cucumber
A whole chicken (to roast and split)
A few mushrooms or sweetcorn
Cheddar

And do:

COLD
Cream cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches
Smoked salmon blitzed with cream cheese to make a pate, in finger sandwiches
Chicken mayo finger sandwiches (use some of the chicken you roast)

WARM/to be cooked in advance and served cool
HM sausage rolls
Small chicken and mushroom pasties/pies or a chicken and mushroom quiche (or sweetcorn)
Smoked salmon quiche
Cheese pinwheels

Then serve alongside crisps, cherry tomatoes halved (to prevent out of mouth squirting!), coleslaw and salad.

For pud I'd make something classic - like a victoria sponge or lemon drizzle - and also serve a fruit salad.