General Chat

why not serve a smaller amount of buffet food and do a curry or a chilli, with rice, then it can simmer away till neede them just needs dishing up, saving time on findle finger foods xxxx

For this sort of get-together I usually cook a whole salmon, a piece of beef and/or ham or turkey and ask everyone else to bring salads and desserts. I usually provide breads, crackers and cheese then at least there is something to eat while everyone else turns up!

In my experience some people forget to bring what they promised or arrive late and what they provide doesn't get eaten.....so I like to have something in hand!

But you haven't picked the easiest option really Dee 'cos you're hosting it. You'll be the one getting everything organised and clearing up afterwards and maybe fretting about it all ... I think you have the most stressful option!

Hope it all goes well for you!

Jill

Merlin
I did think of this, but I have had offers from family to help...which is Jill's idea.

I am compiling a list which I will circulate by email to everyone who has offered to help with food, asking them to put their name to the things they want to provide.

Obviously to avoid duplication, I am sending the email one person at a time, they put their name against the item and send it back to me, then others can see what has already been accounted for.

I'm cheeky, as I am the person holding the reunion at my house...I get first pick, needless to say, I have picked the easy options!
Thanks again
Dee

Ask them all to bring a dish ... ?

Well - maybe ask some of the ones you know a bit better ... I think most people would be happy to do that.

Jill

Work out how much the cost of doing all this will be, then add on the approx cost of doing it all and the amount of power used,i/e Gas Electric. then get a Quote from a catering company,or even your local pub,see which is better .( with no hassle or clearing up ) worth thinking about. **M**.

Bridget/Polly,
thank you both for your ideas
I'll get cracking now!
Regards
Dee

Hi found these


Sandwiches -cooked meat (ham, turkey, chicken, lunchon meat, corned beef), cheese, cheese spread, egg mayonnaise, pate, tuna, marmite, jam.

*Top tip - use cookie or pastry cutters to shape the sandwiches to match your theme, eg, animals for an animal, jungle or safari party, dinosaurs for a prehistoric party, love hearts for a princess party etc.

French stick with butter, and a choice of cheese, cooked meat and pate.

Dips - houmous, taramasalata, or a few assorted-shop-bought dips. Serve with pitta bread, bread sticks, dipping chips, crudites (carrot and celery sticks, strips of pepper, raw cauliflower, mushrooms).

Sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, party eggs, vol au vents, quiche, pizza

Samosas, onion bhajis, vegetable and/or meat pakoras.

Spring rolls.

Cooked chicken pieces, eg, buffalo wings, drumsticks, or cold chiken nuggets.

Savoury nibbles - crisps, twiglets, tortilla chips, cheese biscuits, corn based snacks.

Slices of cucumber, cherry tomatos, celery.

Grapes, apple and orange slices, strawberries.

Sweet party food - fairy cakes, cookies, chocolate biscuits, mini dougnuts, cornflake or crispie cakes, chocolate rolls, muffins.

For an extra special treat, why not invest in a chocolate fountain and let the guests dip fruit, marshmallows and mini doughnuts in it?

*Top Tip if you don't have room for a big spread, and to avoid clearing up lots of waste, why not place a packed lunch type meal in individual party food boxes. Use plain party boxes, or themed party boxes to tie in with your party. For a special touch, try personalised party boxes - these are especially useful if you have children with special dietary requirements. Don't forget to put a simple choice of menu on the invitation so you know beforehand what to put in each box!

Hot Buffet Ideas

Hot dogs in bread rolls with fried onions and ketchup

Chips, potato wedges, croquettes or other frozen potato product served with any of the following:

chicken nuggets, goujons or dippers

sausages (meat and/or vegetarian)

fish fingers

mini pizzas

burgers (meat and/or vegetarian)

Recipes

Pinwheel Sandwiches

Ingredients: 4 medium/thick slices of wholemean/white bread, 3 oz/1/3 cup of cream cheese, 2 thin slices of hame, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional), 1 tbsp finely chopped red pepper (optional).

Instructions:

Cut the crusts off the bread and flatten each slice with a rolling pin. Chop the ham into small pieces and mix with the cream cheese (add parsley and red pepper if you are using them). Spread the cream cheese mixture over the slices. Start at one side and roll up the bread like a swiss roll. Wrap in cling film and put in the fridge for 1 hour. Remove from the fridge and cut into slices.

Traffic Light Jelly

Ingredients: 150g/5oz packet strawberry jelly, 150g/5oz packet orange jelly, 150g/5oz packet lime jelly.

Instructions: Break the lime jelly into cubes and put into a measuring jug. Pour in 300m/10fl oz of boiling water. Stir until all the jelly has dissolved. Then add cold water to make 600ml/2 fl oz.

Pour the jelly into glasses or into a big bowl and put in the fridge until set.

Repeat using the orange jelly, but this time wait until the orange jelly is cool before pouring on top of the lime jelly. Put back in the fridge until set.

Finally, do the same with the strawberry jelly.

Fruity Kebabs

You will need about 20 cocktail sticks, or kebab skewers. If using kebab skewers, soak them in water for about 20 mnutes beforehand to prevent splintering.

Fruit ideas: apple, pear, satsuma, white grapes, red grapes, melon, kiwi, banana, mango, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.

*Top Tip if using apple or pear, sprinkle them with some orange juice - this will stop them from turning brown.

Instructions: put the fruit onto the stick - simple! Serve with fromage frais or yogurt dip, for a yummy extra.

Deetortrainingnewfys
Re your buffet. I suggest that you google Buffet food and you will faind an amazing number of buffet foods and all fairly straight forward, iI have udsed it quite a lot and have never been disappointed.
Have a good time

Bridget

I am organising a family reunion (60+ people) and want to put on a buffet....obviously I have the usual things - sausage rolls, cheese pineapple on stick etc etc

can anyone throw some other ideas at me please?
Thanks
Dee