What one-pot buffet dish can I make for extremely fussy guests

[unconditional83]

Got family coming over and there are 8 of them. They are all very conservative / unhealthy in what they usually eat, and so I've no idea what to make. It will need to be buffet style / lap food due to lack of space.

Was thinking of making one pot of something hot with salads. But every time I think of something I feel like they won't like it. We eat very healthy and fresh food often spicy and lots of plants. They usually eat really bland and UHP stuff, basically the very worst of "British" food and the reason NHS is on its knees but don't get me started freezer food, virtually no veg, and for special occasions Christmas they have things like Iceland "party food", crisps, pork pies etc.

What can I make that's healthy and tasty which they don't turn their nose up. I don't want to buy the crappy UHP they would choose as I don't ever eat that stuff and nor do my DC, but at the same time I want to make something everyone enjoys.

Those accusing posters of not reading OPs posts - I have and I still say the same

She says on the one hand that she wants something in one pot but that has to be 'lap food'. So soupy stewey things presumably cant be served if she is turning her nose up at a cornish pasty which she felt couldnt be eaten on a lap.

Its also the case that these people (these people!) eat ready meals - well ready meals generally come in a range of 'traditional' like cottage or shepherds pie types, 'italian' so lasagne or pasta types, or 'indian' curries and whatnot.

So just do one of them as a home cooked meal, no that tricky to cook up a cottage or shepherds pie (as presumably they wouldnt eat something as exotic as italian or indian) except that she wants something someone can eat on a lap, so its back to square one.

She is advised to cook a pasty type thing that someone could hold easily, doesnt really respond to that, a pie, doesnt respond to that but is insistent that its either Iceland crap or nothing.

So what can you do.

Lasagna, salads, garlic bread (from scratch if you like (3 cups bread flour to 1 cup water, one sachet yeast, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 teaspoon sugar). Pasta from scratch is easy too, though the fresh pasta from supermarkets is good. If you want, make 2 lasagnas, one veggie, 1 meat and use wholemeal pasta for the veggie one to add extra virtue.

I do understand what you are saying because my ex in-laws are just like that, it's not a party without pork pies! But for a buffet you can buy good quality pork pies for instance, make sausage rolls, and also serve homemade hummus, veggie sticks etc for those who do want it. Pulled pork and rolls makes a great option, roast a couple of chickens and serve with baby potatoes, optional salad and so on

It's not a race to the bottom. The list of ingredients on some things is astonishing. It's not real food and I say that as someone who's addicted to it myself.

I bet they do and I bet they exaggerate their 'oh I couldnt eat that, its a sort of curry with vegetables isnt it' responses

I bet they specially buy Iceland crap for when she visits to teach her a lesson

They're sitting there gorging on brie and a 'massive salad' right now!

Just make stuff that you like and shove a load of beige food out for them. Don't overthink it and don't waste time and money trying to provide something you want them to like.

😄

Be honest and say you have no idea why they like and can they tell you what they would like so nothing is wasted.

@unconditional83

Not true, had a lovely salad in a U.K. supermarket cafe today. Also motorway services are much improved these days in the U.K. meanwhile French supermarkets are crammed full of ready made food, French restaurants rarely serve many vegetables with meals too. It's global. Germany was even worse, so much processed pork, no veggies served with meals, even the veggie sounding food is cooked with lard. I'm not being critical of other countries, just that it's the same everywhere. Getting veg when I was in Madrid recently was very hard!

They like bacon.

So just do a big pile of bacon sandwiches.

Nice bread, choice of red or brown sauce. Choice of salad in it or no.

Yum!

Sausage tray bake.

Chicken drumsticks or wings marinated in a Nando’s style spicy sauce and yoghurt are tasty crowd pleasers and teens love Nando’s. With a spicy rice with some finely chopped innocuous veg in it, grilled, buttery corn on the cobs for those slightly less fussy and your family. (Homemade spicy chicken goujons if they’re so fussy even eating meat off the bone will be an issue.)

Not a pot but a stack of homemade beef burgers with the buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, caramelised onions, gherkins, relish, mayonnaise etc. to assemble their own to their own tastes. I’d serve with a huge bowl of real chips or sweet potato wedges.

Lasagne, garlic ciabatta, massive leafy salad with a simple balsamic dressing on the side for those who would like it/want to try it.

Mac and cheese with the same sides as the lasagne above if fussy about mince or hosting veggies.

Pizza with the same sides as above. In fact, I think mac and cheese is a little too samey on its own with a bit of garlic bread and salad so I’d prob do that with a lasagne as the veggie option or alongside pizza.

You may enjoy eating your healthy food but I like my guests to leave us feeling full after having enjoyed eating delicious - to them, not me - food. So I’d compromise somewhere between your usual food and Iceland buffet food. Your post was unnecessarily rude about people you’re presumably fairly close to, to be hosting them, though.

At least they'll be cheap and easy to feed.

Hot dogs?

You could claim to not be hungry and have a massive salad later on.

@Jo58 , they don't like spicy or cheese.

Agree to all of this post.

Another positive shout for Iceland here too. If nothing else, it's nearer than the other supermarkets.
There's Tesco and Sainsbury's within walking distance but the others are miles away.

I’m starving and want everything you’ve mentioned! 😂

I dont know if Iceland still have these up, but I warmed to them as a brand even more when I saw signs up at the till about being dementia/senior aware, people might take longer than you to get their money out, or pack their bags, or move around, so please be patient

Never seen it anywhere else.

I love Iceland

Home made versions of Iceland food vote here.

Home made chicken goujons, home made garlic bread, onion rings, just put veg out for those of you who want it and they can sit with their plates of beige.

Lasagne? You can make it pretty healthy with 5% fat mince and added veg (chopped tiny like you're feeding fussy kids) or is that too fancy for them 😂

I would make versions of what they eat. Homemade chicken goujons, homemade sausage rolls, potato wedges, bake brownies & cupcakes OR if you think these might be rejected as too different for their tastes, I would do a big buffet & include the things they like about the things you like & then everyone can select what they want & noones feeling judged & everyone's fed & happy

Surely the focus is on spending time with them not reviewing their diets?

We have done pie nights for mostly DH’s family who love them.

a local pie maker does posh pies and we did a cheeseboard on the side.

other times we have done meat and cheese pasties- again made locally and £1 each and order large boxes of both for collection. DH insisted these were served with mushy peas and red cabbage.

all served in strong paper bowls and ate standing up.

in my family it would be a massive pan of scouse.

Roast a couple of chickens and a big tray of sausages. Do boiled new potatoes and big dish of of macaroni cheese. Tubs of tubs of coleslaw, garlic bread, a chopped salad. Something for absolutely everybody there, nothing spicy, nothing too adventurous.

Thank you. Yes I think @TwigletsAndRadishes has it. That's what I'll do. Covers most bases.

You’re being unnecessarily snobby and making your life difficult. Will it hurt you SO much to make some chicken nuggets and chips alongside the pot of curry etc you’ll make for yourself?! Add some bread, salad and dessert, jobs a good’un. You won’t catch anything from cooking “unhealthy” food for one day!

Bbq chicken tray bake might work?
Simple and can make your own bbq sauce if you want pop in the oven.

Serve it with home made potato wedges/chips and salads on the side. Easy to eat on the lap, not spicy and easy to prep and cook.