Nibbles for four - what would you like to eat?

[AinmÁlainn]

I invited eight friends over tomorrow evening for drinks and nibbles but only three can come so the spread I planned (I'm a feeder) is a bit much. I was going to make red onion and blue cheese mini tarts, ham and mushroom mini quiches, baked camembert with herb/garlic bread sticks, and a cheese/ meat/crackers board, with mince pies to wrap up. Obviously that's too much so how will I scale back? A smaller amount of what I planned seems weird. What would you do instead? I love cooking so don't really just want to put out a few bowls of nuts and crisps (although my lovely friends would be happy with that).

I'd be inclined to just do the meat and cheese board, with some fruit and veg as well

I'd lose the tarts and mince pies but keep the rest I do like a spread though! Enjoy your evening! Sounds delicious!

It sounds lovely, but it is all very rich (just after a week of rich food).

Are any of them doing veganuary?

I would be delighted to scoff some olives, sun-dried tomato, grilled veg.

Could you make some halloumi/meat/seafood kebabs incorporating some peppers and onion (or other veg)?

Depending on your mood....

Drop the quiche (the tarts sound more impressive) and maybe scale back the cheese board portions
Or
Do it all and enjoy the leftovers for a couple of days 😂

I agree about dropping the quiche, as you have 2 different pastry things and also one of the baked camembert or meat/cheese board. Then add some veg/salad and nuts/crisps if you like. If you have leftovers, you can always eat them in the next couple of days after the gathering.

It sounds lovely but very cheesy and rich after the rich food and cheese fest of Christmas. And I am not sure anyone can still look at a mince pie.

If you like cooking, can you concoct something tapas like out of these - like make Spanish omelette including a bit of cheese, a salad with some of the cold meat, plus some olives and crackers and maybe one lighter cheese on the side. And maybe fruit salad or just a fruit plate for pudding if you feel you need one.

drop the Camembert & quiche/tarts

keep the rest maybe add some veg sticks or similar tho

I made a smoked mackerel paté, amongst other things - and prepared a big bowl of carrot and red pepper sticks; no one touched them. They ate all the pastry items and rich food and dipped flat breads into the pate. I did try! I prepared enough stuff for 14 and there were 7 of us...

Oh, lots of lovely ideas, thank you! I am trying to avoid leftovers so I don't eat them myself 😂I don't know why I said quiche, was actually intending ham/mushroom frittata cut into bites, but there many suggestions I hadn't thought of. I haven't ever cooked halloumi before - any recipe suggestions? Mince pies were a request so I need to do a few at least! I didn't think of veganuary. I dont think anyine is doing it but I'd better check, in case.

They only coming for a glass of wine a catch up so I don't want to go too far over board.

What does it mean "drinks and nibbles"? When do people eat properly, before or after?

They are coming over about 8 so that's another reason I don't want to go too much, as they know they aren't getting a proper meal so may have eaten earlier.

Can't go wrong with chips and dips. We had an M&S Mexican layered dip before Christmas which I then recreated which was delicious. Salsa, homemade guacamole, soured cream, grated cheddar and a few jalapenos on top.

Funny one. If you expect them to eat beforehand then you don't need to make any food. If you don't then you need to invite them for dinner and cook dinner.

Lose the tart/quiche, keep Camembert (my fav) and the meat and cheese board:

sounds amazing.. can I be your friend?

I can come with my 4 friends it sounds delicious 😂

Chocbuttons and MrsHarris, you can each come with a friend 😁

Suits us , we are all free. What will I bring you for a tipple??

What about just saying X, Y and Z have dropped out so there's enough that no one needs to eat before hand.

That would be delightful if that was me.

What do your friends like to eat? I am a savory fan but not a cheese fan so I would be going for the quiche and the meat platter. Obviously if your friends are massive cheese fans you are going to go for that or if they are sweet people the mincepie

I would drop quiches and tarts. Camembert with veg sticks, bread sticks and some meat, olives, antipasti. Then mince pies.

Do they know they're coming for 'a glass of wine and a catch up' rather than 'dinner'?

It wouldn't bother me because I eat more earlier in the day, so would be fine with nibbles in the evening, but most people seem to want a full meal in the evening so might come expecting that, rather than eating before they arrive. But then if they eat before they arrive, they might not want anything at all if they've just had a proper meal an hour earlier.

I haven't ever cooked halloumi before - any recipe suggestions

I'm not sure you need a 'recipe' for Halloumi. You just slice it up and fry it and serve as part of a mezze spread. Might have some sort of dip to go with I suppose.

Yes, friends know what to expect, glass of wine and small bites are the norm when we get together like this. Everyone is free to eat as much or as little as they like. The drop in numbers is what's catching me out. There'd usually be up to 15 of us for something like this so I was already scaling back (or trying to) for 8!

Keep the mini tarts and mini quiches, perhaps a couple of each per person.
Drop the Camembert and bread sticks.
Keep the cheese/meat/crackers board but reduce the size of it appropriate to the three guests.
Drop the mince pies.

If I was invited to drinks and nibbles I'd eat something small before I arrived, expecting to just snack on nibbles. What you're offering is a full meal with mince pie dessert!