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Original poster

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

379 replies

unconditional83 · 29/03/2024 10:01

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.

OP posts:
soupfiend · 29/03/2024 19:44

nameXname · 29/03/2024 19:40

OP and others - I have not read the whole thread, only as far as the first few pages. I have to cook supper. Apologies to all if I'm overstating the obvious.

But
(a) Iceland do fabulous and very cheap frozen raspberries and other frozen fruit. Also their frozen veg (green beans, little peas etc) are very good and a real bargain. Their plain frozen fish is good also - no additives - and they often have bargain packs of fresh apples, carrots, onions, potatoes etc that are 'real' and very good value.

(b) I often have to cook for a dear friend who is extremely intelligent but still has very definite likes and dislikes. What goes down well - as others have suggested - are the following. All can be served with lots and lots of green salad for those others who like it and good bread and perhaps 'naice' cheese - I make granary bread - and plain salted butter :

  • sausages. These can be as wholesome as you like. Oven bake with/without onions, as your guests prefer
  • bacon. I just roast oven trays of it - welfare friendly/organic.
  • Potato wedges/oven chips - homemade are the nicest. Lots and lots of them. Perhaps with a dip - sour cream and chopped onion is easy to do at home. No additives involved.
  • Perhaps even plus: potato salad. Homemade. (Friend will eat it with chopped apples added and chives on top but some might not. Again, I use Hellmans but thinned down a tad with apple cider vinegar.)
  • Plain sliced ham. Cold.
  • Garlic bread - make your own if you like
  • Rolls. Find out what the guests prefer, if possible. They may well not be to your taste, but it's only for one meal.
  • Coleslaw. For heaven's sake not with yoghurt but full fat and homemade with mostly Hellmans mayo - a bit of that is not going to kill anyone - and perhaps chopped spring onions. Finely chopped as possible, so as not to stir up sensory issues. I would seriously consider buying this (get supermarket premium variety) - you and your family don't have to eat it.
  • I find my friend likes raw carrot batons, red pepper strips, mini tomatoes and mini gherkins if they are not 'signposted' to them and will actually eat quite a lot of these rather absent mindedly. You could add - for self-selection for your family - all sorts of other tasty things: sliced avocados, olives, radishes, celery etc etc etc
  • Am a vegetarian but I've yet to find any meat-eater who did not like roast chicken. Ideally hot.
  • Probaby plain tomato ketchup - nothing too bad there - plus whatever sauces your guests say they like. Am out of touch re those. People will eat a lot if the right sauce is on top.

Puddings:
*Any sort of crumble with cream; perhaps apple the least risky. Or perhaps just homemade apple pie. Really simple, with crisp light pastry and lots of fruit.
*Any sort of homemade cake/gateau with cream - Iceland rapsberries are great for this sort of thing
*Ice cream, as posh/wholesome as you like but no wierd flavours. Plain vanilla best.
I usually serve blueberries/grapes/strawberries in season as well so that those who like fresh fruit can have those as well.

If fruit is really out of the question for your guests, then perhaps Nigella's chocolate olive oil cake (https://www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-olive-oil-cake (it's rather like a brownie, so you could describe it as that) . And cream/ice cream. Any leftovers - I've never known that to happen - then it freezes really well.

Best of luck, and many apologies if I'm repeating earlier suggestions.

Bless you for trying

Blueberrycreampie · 29/03/2024 19:55

@Nearlyadoctor I will try and find the one I used!

Jo58 · 29/03/2024 20:00

Bjorkdidit · 29/03/2024 19:39

But it doesn't mean it's something that you have to 'try to find' as if it doesn't exist any more.

That's like me saying 'do supermarkets still sell nappies and tampons', I haven't seen them for years, because I'm childfree and post menopause so have no need for either.

But I'm not sure that gammon, egg and chips fits the OPs brief of being suitable for eating on laps on the sofa due to the lack of sufficient space at a table.

Show quote history

I genuinely thought it was something that was quite dated so it wouldn’t be in all supermarkets eg smaller Metro style ones. We ate it growing up and my dad would often have it in a pub (with both an egg and pineapple) but my folks never eat it now, even though my dad clearly loved it enough to have it regularly when we went out for a meal. We never had it in my teen years either so it’s food I associate with my childhood. I have seen it on the odd pub menu though of course. I don’t really pay much attention to meat dishes on menus though as I don’t eat pork or beef.

I was talking about what I’d make for my cousin.

Interested in this thread?

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General food
Blueberrycreampie · 29/03/2024 20:05

This one and search coq au vin👍 www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coq-au-vin

Blueberrycreampie · 29/03/2024 20:06

Sorry to @Nearlyadoctor www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coq-au-vin

Jeannie88 · 29/03/2024 20:11

NavyPeer · 29/03/2024 10:27

Just make a Mac and cheese

or pulled pork in the slow cooker to have with burgers

This! A homemade mac cheese with bacon etc is always a winner! Then some other buffet stuff. X

CliffsofMohair · 29/03/2024 20:11

unconditional83 · 29/03/2024 11:09

I don't know. I guess I imagine a massive pasty to be rather a messy meal!

The whole point of pasties was for miners to be able to eat them from their hands whilst down a mineshaft. They’re a very compact meal.

Beenalongwinter · 29/03/2024 20:12

Lots of nice suggestions but some of them are more suited to a sit down meal
At the table.
Individual shepherds pies served on a plate with room extra veg on the side. Carrots, beans, cauliflower and broccoli. Keep it simple if guests are balancing food in their lap.

Justgorgeous · 29/03/2024 20:18

Do a spag bol and a chilli

samarrange · 29/03/2024 20:23

Tarte flambée baguettes. https://mmbonappetit.com/baguettine/

Bread, cream cheese, grated cheese, bacon, onions.

Trust me, nobody (who isn't vegan) doesn't like these.

Baguettine / Baguette flambée • Creamy baked baguette with bacon, onion, and Gruyère – MM Bon Appétit

https://mmbonappetit.com/baguettine

Mumaway · 29/03/2024 20:28

Chilli and rice and maybe garlic bread? With a bowl of salad for those who like more veg?

Ponytailsandpinot · 29/03/2024 20:38

Oven pizza, salad, garlic bread, coleslaw.

SpicyMoth · 29/03/2024 20:42

Couldn't you just do a shepherds pie with a bunch of veg "hidden" in it? I feel like that's pretty "british" and "bland" as you describe (wouldn't personally call it bland, but it's certainly beigey)
Peas, onions or shallots, carrots, swede, parsnips, sweetcorn (if you're feeling adventurous)

xyz111 · 29/03/2024 20:52

Chilli?

TakeOnFlea · 29/03/2024 20:56

Can't believe OP is cooking 2 roast chickens, 1 tray of sausages, a macaroni cheese (when they DONT EAT FUCKING CHEESE), boiled potatoes and a salad.

What the fuck is "one pot meal suitable for eating on lap" about that?

Ridiculous 🤣

CaptainCarrot · 29/03/2024 20:57

How bizarre that they eat pork pies but don't eat pork, like pizza but won't eat cheese.

Thepartnersdesk · 29/03/2024 21:32

Could you do fajitas but do separate bowls of stuff and include breaded chicken and potato wedges, easy to make yourself.

That way you can have a fancier version with extra salad of veg and they can basically have chicken nuggets and chips but can try extras if they fancy.

echt · 29/03/2024 21:39

Look at whatever "unhealthy" things they like, then make them yourself from sratch.

Sorted.

MerryChristmasToYou · 29/03/2024 21:46

That won't necessarily work. My from scratch 'pot noodle' isn't a patch on the real one.

TakeOnFlea · 29/03/2024 21:47

Pot noodles is a cracking idea tbh. All you need is a fork and it's "one pot"

Nearlyadoctor · 29/03/2024 21:53

@Blueberrycreampie - many thanks 🙏

Blueberrycreampie · 29/03/2024 21:57

You're welcome @Nearlyadoctor!

sansou · 29/03/2024 22:30

Irish Stew & nice bread.
Kedgeree.

Jo58 · 29/03/2024 22:38

sansou · 29/03/2024 22:30

Irish Stew & nice bread.
Kedgeree.

Laughing at how kedgeree would go down with fussy eaters. Not even I’m a fan.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/03/2024 22:46

I love kedgeree but it's not a beige buffet staple!

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