So apparently I'm having 18 people for a lunch party on Monday.

[Womblealongwithme]

DH and I were supposed to be at a party 3 weeks ago and unfortunately, I came down with a sickness bug so DH went on his own.

He has just reminded me about the bank holiday party we're having on Monday and asked what I needed him to do for it. Except I wasn't at the party and knew nothing about said party. DH is the loveliest, kindest man on the planet and was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago, which means that sometimes, he has conversations with me in his head, that don't quite make it to me! (Like inviting all and sundry to said bank holiday party!) So, dear readers, I need ideas from you lot quickly. We don't have a barbecue so I have my fridge and an oven and not a lot of kitchen space.

Add to that, that most of tomorrow will be taken up with various sporting activities for DS and DD so I don't have a whole lot of time, pretty much Monday morning only! Oh and it needs to cater for vegetarian and coeliac guests. Help!

Disclaimer - DH will absolutely be involved in prep and feel awful that he has sprung this on me!

I'd do curry. Excellent for both vegetarians and coeliacs. You could buy a whole load of sides if you don't want to make them.

I'd say that you've made plans, go out and leave him to it.

Leave him to it or get him to cancel it.

What about a "cold spread" type lunch - breads, cheeses, meats, quiche, salads, crisps. Not fancy, but I like it because it doesn't require everyone to eat at the same time which may work if it's a "turn up from X o clock" type thing?

I also like pulled pork from that point of view (do it in the slow cooker, pretty low intervention, could put it on tomorrow evening and cook it overnight) with ratatouille for vegetarians/everyone (cook plenty as meat eaters always go for it as well).

McDonalds. Get an order in and get them to deliver.

Get some salads and picky bits from the supermarket that don't need any prep then order in pizza?

His party, his problem. You can help him, not the other way around.

Curry, or a chilli with rice. You could do a couple of substantial salads to go along if you havent got cooking space to do curry and rice for 18. Good luck

If DH did the invites, have you checked all of the guests know it's definitely happening and are still coming? (Sorry if that's obvious but it sounds like maybe he's not a details kind of person).

Quiche, salads, cheese, bread etc. write him a list and he can go to the supermarket and buy in. Decant into dishes and on to plates and it’s done

Buffet style. Bread (gf if needed) dips hummus, tzatziki etc, cheese board, meat board, potato salad, coleslaw, green salad, any other salads eg tomato mozerella, pitta/wraps, pakora/onion bahjis, dressings and chutneys and vinegars.

Nice alcohol free drinks, appletize, posh juices.

Dessert, strawberries and cream and something heavier, gf brownies with icecream, crem caramel, or clefutis or chocolate mousse.

Make any bits you can manage, buy in the rest and present in nice bowls.

Veggie chilli with salad, rice and crusty bread. Eton mess for dessert. Simple and suits everyone.

If either of you do want to cook, I suggest these. One vegetarian, one not: both easy.

Aubergine parmigiana recipe | Good Food share.google/WihxBsPRhy2hg71fw

Chicken arrabiata recipe - BBC Food https://share.google/B9YSNdO5HcJdYEjiw

Anywhere you can buy lots of rotisserie chickens ?
chicken with wraps and salad would be easy(ish) - served hot or cold
pudding from Cook or a Magnum for everyone

Do you have a pressure cooker or a slow cooker?

If you have a pressure cooker, two pulled pork shoulders. Takes about 30 mins to cook each one. 10 min prep. Rice for coeliac

Then serve with salad, coleslaw and wraps.

It's about the easiest thing going.

Failing that, a big vat of chilli again with wraps, coleslaw and rice. Easy.

I regularly cater for 18. It's not a difficult number to do as long as you keep it simple. If you stick to a filling and wraps/rice, it's not hard to add a veggie alternative if you need too. (BBC good food have a decent easy veggie chilli recipe if just want to go veggie for everyone. I think it's fairly easy AND if you are careful and use a coeliac friendly veggie stock, actually works for everyone).

18 people?? God.

Depends what money you have. If you can throw cash at it, do a buffet as described here, plus I might add in about 9 pizzas. If you have less money, do a sweet potato, chickpea and coconut curry with rice, plus maybe a red lentil Dahl.

Are you actually sure this is happening? He invited 18 people over for a lunch but no one has followed up by message to confirm times and if they should bring anything?

I'd go Turkish/Lebanese.

Chicken and Veg skewers
Falafel
Salad
Breads
Houmous/Baba ganoush/the yoghurty one
Olives

Minimal cooking required and will suit veggies and coeliacs.

Possibly already suggested, but a meat chilli, a veggie chilli could be made on Sunday pm, then I cooked rice in a roasting tray in the oven on the day (which was a revelation when cooking for large numbers). I the. Left everything for people to help themselves with bowls of grated cheese, sour cream, chopped chillies, tortilla chips and coriander etc for people to add themselves. It was really easy on the day, and just required chopping the veg and making the chillies the evening before.

Order pizza … not a chance on short notice I’d be cooking for that many people. ADHD or not … said as somebody with AuDHD myself … this is his problem not yours.

Is he expecting you to produce all this food?

Do you like to cook? Are you a quick cook or a faffer?

Good point.

@Womblealongwithme I would check that it is actually going to happen first.

Several lasagnes - make the day before and you can just heat up - with big side salads and then some vegetarian bits like spanakopita and olives.

Several lasagnes - make the day before and you can just heat up - with big side salads and then some vegetarian bits like spanakopita and olives.