Party food ideas please!

[Back2Two]

Having a party in a couple of weeks. It's a day to evening party with children too. People may come at any time really or might stay from start to finish.

I want to have some decent food but not to bankrupt ourselves in the process. Also, nibbles are fine but I'm thinking of a more substantial sort of food that will properly fill people if necessary. If I could think of a "main thing" that lent itself to people bringing along little additions that would be ideal. And it'll be eat when you want, rather than everyone eat at same time.

I don't really mind if the children might eat slightly different stuff, I want to have nice food for adults.

Any ideas would be really welcome .....

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

How about having a cheeseboard with crackers, grapes, pickles etc for picking at and then a couple of slowcookers with a veggie chilli and a meat chilli in? You could then ask somebody to bring guacamole, somebody to make a salsa, somebody to bring grated cheese, somebody else to bring crusty bread etc. Get a couple of people to bring cakes and you're sorted!

[Strawhatpirate]

I say this all the time on here so apologies in advance! When I do a buffet or party I always go to the chinese supermarket because you can get really large trays and boxes of starters and nibbles very cheaply. We have one in Mcr called Wing Yip.

[Back2Two]

Chilli is a good idea, especially as there can be a veg option and is quite easy for people to help themselves. I like the idea of the salsa etc too.

Cheeseboard also a favourite of mine. Thanks for the post!

[Back2Two]

Hi strawhat. I've not come across you and your nibbles before....sound like a nice idea, are they raw or just need heating up things?

[Strawhatpirate]

Most of them you just whack in the oven. They're all premade they just need heating and crisping up in the oven . One of my favourite things to get from there is the giant bag of crispy duck portions because they're just such little effort just shove them in the oven and then put them out later with some pancakes.

[Back2Two]

Mmm. They do sound nice! And a bit different too. They couldn't be mistaken for nasty Iceland snackettes could they?

[Strawhatpirate]

I thought that to the first time I bought them but once they come out of the oven they look like the ones from chinese restaurants. I would recomend going for a look round first to suss out what you like the look of (its quite a good foody day out even if you don't like the look of anything)

[Back2Two]

I will have a look thanks, there's a couple of Chinese supermarkets I know. And I like the idea of heating up a tray here and there and wandering around offering them to people and falling over spilling them everywhere because I've had too much wine

[Back2Two]

Bumppppp.

[Back2Two]

Any more ideas?

[ceeveebee]

Pulled pork with pitta breads, coleslaw, potato salad, tortilla chips etc

It's basically slow cooked spicy pork, usually shoulder, sometimes called Boston butt. So very cheap but lovely, meat falls apart. can buy preseasoned from waitrose 3 for £10 or there are lots of online recipest