To buy extra Xmas food for unexpected guests, if so what?

[ifonly4]

I tend to buy very much what we'll eat as a family over Xmas plus for visitors if they're expected. I also buy some extras for unexpected guests.

However, the last two years we've had no one unexpectedly and we've been left with meat things, mincepies, salad stuff that's gone off and having to eat party packs we don't really fancy. So would you buy a few things in just in case? If so, what? I'm thinking along the lines of things that keep. Freezer is full of our normal food.

If someone caught us on a good day, we'd have a couple of packet of crisps, a couple of cheeses, can tuna, hopefully enough bread, a dip, some salad packet of mince pies (no meat), but that will get used over a few days.

None of us drink fizzy drinks, nor do our expected visitors. Again, would you buy them just in case? We'd only have squash, water or wine on offer.

[2014newme]

No, why would you have unexpected guests that need mince pies, meat and salad 😂

[2014newme]

Baffled as to why you wouldn't party food that you don't fancy in case unexpected guests turn up.

[ifonly4]

In the past I've tended to buy the extras like meat, salad, party food, mince pies just in case we feel we want to/or feel obliged to invite someone last minute. If I buy party food it's something that we'd eat if we had it out for guests, but we don't tend to eat those sort of snacky things.

There's only three of us (plus the odd family for say lunch/tea over Xmas) so I don't tend to have loads in at any one time.

[Madmog]

I hate having to guess what to buy in as well.

You could just say you're not doing tea (and have it much later!), but would they like to stay for a glass of wine and a few nibbles. If you have any of your cheese cut it into small pieces, crisps can go out and anything like tomato/cucumber slices.

Do your DC eat pizza as one of those might be a good thing to cook and cut up. I find it handy have some ready to bake crusty bread in as that keeps for a while. If you don't use it, you can have it on the side with a meal. Would you get through the crisps in the New Year if you bought more? If you eat biscuits, get an extra packet of what you normally have.

Don't apologise, just offer wine and squash if kids are staying.

[ArcheryAnnie]

We have some packs of party food in the freezer, then if they don't get eaten over xmas, DS and I will have some absolutely ridiculous meals in the new year consisting of tiny pies, hot canapes, etc, which we both love.

(I occasionally buy reduced-price party food in the new year for us to have these ridiculous meals anyway, as we do enjoy them. Tiny food! In large quantities!)

[ArcheryAnnie]

But anyone who is an unexpected guest will know that you haven't planned a meal for them anyway, and should be prepared to make do with whatever you offer them. And wine, tea, squash, etc is plenty as far as drinks go!

[PotteringAlong]

archery that's our New Year's Eve tea! party food picks for us after the children are asleep! Love it

[idontlikealdi]

I have some sausage rolls I the freezer and that's if. If they're unexpected they can't be expecting to be fed surely?!