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.

It's one day, right? Why are you hosting them if you actually don't want to 'host' them?

We eat a very healthy diet, but if I host people I at least try to make an effort to give them what they like, even if I think it's crap. You don't need to eat it yourself. Maybe just be a decent host to them, rather than judge them for not being up to your standards.

Yeah if they won't eat cheese, pizza is out

Macaroni cheese

Tomato type pasta bake

Garlic bread and salads

Homemade pizzas, homemade chicken goujons , homemade potato wedges, corn on cob, salad, fake Nando's rice
Lots of other ideas and recipes here

Just make them home made versions of their usual 'crap'. Or don't host people you don't like and feel superior about.

Why not just order in pizza then instead of making them from scratch. And they have cheese on, I thought you said they don't eat cheese ....

I think you are trying a bit too hard to prove to them that you eat better, live better etc.

It's one meal. Do a help yourself version of fatijas or burgers or something they will enjoy.

Link

https://pinchofnom.com/category/food/fakeaways/

Spaghetti Bolognese with garlic bread
Or a pasta bake if you want a proper one dish. With garlic bread.

Or of Iceland, which is just a supermarket at the end of the day. I buy plenty of my frozen veg and meat in there, its good value and they were the first to do away with GMO products and palm oil out of their own brand

but you know, its just crap

OP Im embarrassed for you, really

Mild veggie chilli with pile of wraps, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and stick a tray of tortilla chips in oven with jar of salsa on top and loads of grated cheese.

You can provide a non-spicy meal with unchallenging vegetables without having to resort to UPF though.

Why not cook a large ham and serve with buttered new potatoes, green salad and cherry tomatoes? You can have smaller portions of more exotic veg dishes on the side if your own family would prefer these and will eat up leftovers - maybe a roasted veg couscous and some roasted beets?

If you are serving some nibbles with drinks beforehand, these could be nuts and trail mix with some crisps for your guests. Dessert could be poached pears with a dark chocolate sauce.

No one will go away feeling judged or that you made a point at their expense. Your guests should enjoy what you offered them and your own family’s digestive systems won’t get too much of a shock either.

I assume the main thing is for family to get together to enjoy spending time in each others company so don’t let the food get in the way of that

Surely pizza isn't a good idea if they don't like cheese? They do sound tricky to cater for. You could get good quality bought versions of things they would like, pork pies etc. I'd just get what you know they'll eat, even if it's not anything like what you usually eat. And have some nice tasty veg dishes for you!

OP probably means they don't eat things like camembert or stilton, not mozzarella on a pizza.

Just buy sausage rolls and chicken goujons and put out salads, coleslaw etc.
You're overthinking it. You're not going to be able to serve something so healthy and delicious that they suddenly see the light, so don't bother trying.

I would say “Tonight we’re having ie, Boef Bourgignon with potatoes dauphinoise and a green salad. Not keen? Well I guess you can always sort some UberEats or MenuLog for yourself…”
Then not only are you not buying and cooking boring el blando food, but you will have leftovers to package up.

Citation please?

According to WHO Britain is still top of the European obesity rankings. France may well be moving up due to an increase in fast food culture but it's nothing compared to the UK. Travel in France and stop off at any "corner shop" or motorway service station, or even a supermarket cafe and you'll be spoilt for choice of freshly made healthy food. You would be hard pushed to find anything healthy on the same settings in the UK. It's so depressing.

Slightly off topic but there's no carrot in a Cornish pasty! Sacrilege!

@soupfiend By Iceland party food I'm not talking about the normal supermarket veg though am I. I'm talking about brown UHP.

Mini hog roast:
Roast pork shoulder with crispy crackling: doesn't need to be pulled apart and covered with sugary goop. Sliced and served in buns (choice available) with a choice of sauces and stuffing. Salads for those who like them. ( include potato salad and coleslaw for your guests with simpler tastes). And roast potatoes, lots and lots of roast potatoes.
All cooked from scratch, no UPF ( except the rolls if you don't buy them yourself) and simple fayre that your guests should enjoy. Win-win.

OP just do some filled jacket potatoes. Various fillings. BBC good food have a fabulous recipe IIRC

If they don’t like cheese then don’t make pizzas surely? Also some people do prefer the taste of products they know and so home made versions can taste very different and they might not like. If your homemade pizza is then the main meal and they don’t like it it will feel uncomfortable all round.

Definitely lose the judgement OP. They can choose to eat how they wish. Your issue is providing a meal they will like and eat so you don’t have waste or feel a bad host but you also preferring to use fresh produce as the base.

So how about roast a joint of good quality ham and a free range chicken. Then have fresh bread, mustard and pickles, salad for the rest of you (separate it out in case some of them will eat bits of it eg cherry toms, cucumber slices, carrot sticks) , maybe some new potatoes and something like coleslaw plus pickles.

Those that don’t feel comfortable can just have meat and some bread so still feel full.

Make a cake for desert and leave everyone to self serve ice cream and berries and it’s up to them which they choose. Homemade cake doesn’t need to be very processed so perfectly acceptable to you.

Pulled pork to have burgers? Or a chilli type thing for jacket potatoes or nachos and tortillas?

How can you not eat a Cornish pasty on your lap ? It was designed to be eaten by people at work . Frankly I don’t know why you’ve invited them as you obviously just want to sneer at them .

Yes I hadn't thought of the cheese being an issue! I'm pretty sure they do eat dominoes so perhaps it's just actual cheeseboard cheese they refuse.

Funny I serve "Iceland crap" solely when I need to a low hassle buffet - its quick and easy to produce a variety of different bitesized pieces across a range of cuisines and dietary preferences that'll keep most people happy, and easy to eat on your lap. Never occurred to me that I might be getting judged for it! Or that any of my friends and family might think I eat like that all the time.:D

I usually do a roast dinner when I need to cater for a group between 6 and 10. It can all easily be prepped in advance and then filed in the oven and forgotten. Just need to faff for 15 mins at the end to steam some veg, rest the meat, make the gravy and nuke the patoatoes (I've only got 1 oven) if they've not crisped up at the meat cooking temperature. A simpler more summery version is 2 roast chickens with side dishes.

But I'd probably be a tad disappointed with an Easter lunch that didn't include a tasty leg of lamb... Not judgey, no. Just disappointed.

(Also wondering how the heck you manage to not eat a pasty on your lap. I mean you literally serve them in a paper bag...)