Easy supper for 12+

[TheMitfordsMaid]

I've invited a few people over and we've more people that I can sit comfortably around the table, so the menu needs to be easy to eat when perched on the arm of the sofa or standing up chatting. I'm a bit stumped for ideas: a big bowl of chilli seems like the most likely contender but I struggle to cook large quantities of rice. I'd quite like a range of hot but easy dishes - any ideas?

[Catsmamma]

chilli, baked tatties, fajitas.....just do the meat and peppers and let folks assemble their own, tacos/nachos

all very casual.

[Batteryhuman]

Easiest carbohydrates for large numbers are couscous or crusty bread.

Or you could make lasagne, fish pie or shepherds pie so no extras needed apart from a big bowl of peas with the fish pie of course.

[WhinGin]

I like to do a cornbread topping for chilli if I am catering for many www.nigella.com/recipes/view/cornbread-topped-chilli-con-carne-126 then you could maybe do a chicken casserole with Jackets for variety, or a curry and naan breads?

[storminabuttercup]

How about pork sandwiches with stuffing and apple sauce, there's a recipe on BBC food?

[TheMitfordsMaid]

I like the sound of all of these ideas, thank you so much! We don't drink but obviously expect that others will, how many bottles of wine/beer should we get in, do you think?

[storminabuttercup]

Im always over catering where wine and beer is concerned, but for 12 people I would get 6 red, 6 White and 3 cases of beer, just to cover all bases but it wouldn't go to waste here do you know what people drink?

[sarahtigh]

if a week day if 6 couples assume 6 driving 6 not so i think the average would be half a bottle of wine per person so 4 bottles should cover iit make sure soft drinks are nice though but if a weekend and all walking getting taxis i would go with about 8 bottles of wine and 12 -15 bottles beer/lager but you know your friends

if eating on chairs crusty bread bette rthan rice do you really what to be finding grains of rice for next 2 weeks crumbs easier to hoover up

follow with cheese board apples and grapes or cakes