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 buffet.
Green salad leaves
Cucumber, carrot, pepper sticks
New potatoes
Gammon, joint of beef. Salmon, turkey crown, whatever. Sliced. Or pulled pork and buns.
Coleslaw
Potato salad
Bean salad
Hummus
Rice salad/pasta salad with cheese
Cheeseboard and crackers and grapes
Shop bought cheesecake with soft fruits
Chocolate biscuits stack

Absolutely no cook buffet would cost a fortune at short notice so cook the meats yourself and boil a few kilos of new potatoes.

I'd do big single pot meals at this stage - potato and chick-pea curry and a chicken curry if you want. Rice and Naan. Boil potatoes, tinned chickpeas, diced chicken, curry sauce from jars. Just make sure your Naan is separate to avoid cross contamination for the coeliac. Or just do rice. Or just make your hubby sort it!

Very odd to be 'surprise' hosting a party in two days time and not one guest has contacted you to confirm times, is it still on, what should they bring etc.

Is it? It's only a surprise to me, but I daresay people will contact me tomorrow, the day before.

Either way, I plan to cater for my guests, not ask them to bring their own food. What I do think is very odd is your weird post, clearly implying that this is somehow not true, which is utterly bizarre for something so mundane as my original post. It's really not a big deal, I just wanted some ideas, which other people have been kind enough to give, so it's really not that deep.

No, come on OP. This is beyond unreasonable.

Well I'm not over the moon, but it's not the end of the world. I was just looking for some ideas to help us out that's all. Some posters have taken my request at face value and been pretty helpful so it's all good.

As he had arranged it, it is HIS gathering and he can arrange it. Feel free to ask him what you can do yo help him.

chicken and peppers on flat breads, assortment of rice salads etc

Im not the only person to have mentioned that its strange that no one has contacted you to discuss plans OP. I didn't insinuate that you were lying, you've interpreted it that way yourself. My point is that it is very strange to not have heard from any of these guests two days prior to the event and I would probably confirm numbers before making decisions about food etc.

Pretty rude guests, if you have 18 coming, not to have contacted you or DH to ask if they can bring something or do anything to help.

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

Oh will he now? 🙄

What he should be involved in is sorting out the lunch party that he decided to have and invite 18 people to.

Then, if you're feeling supportive and have nothing better to do, you can be involved in his prep.

Don't be a mug.

First I’d check what your DH has arranged - he seems to have done the inviting so I would expect that he would also be sorting out food, drinks, making the house guest ready.

I used to cater for large family gatherings quite often and many of my guests would ask what they could bring. I’d usually suggest easy things like bread rolls or a salad. Or if I knew that the person had a very popular signature dish, I would ask them to make that, as they can usually do it blindfolded. It’s quite common for everyone to pitch in, especially if it’s a large social dinner.

Do you have a barbecue? That’s another great way to cater to a crowd. Have DH purchase, marinate and cook all the meat. Make plenty of huge salads eg potato, green, beetroot and if your guests offer, ask them to bring bread rolls or coleslaw. They can help themselves and just sit wherever they can find a place to sit down. I would put seating outside too.

Exactly.

I don't know why the OP is referring to them as her guests.

Can the man not manage a supermarket shop on his own?

If he feels terrible about it all and wants to 'help' he should sort the food out himself.

How's your weather looking, could he do a BBQ? Sounds like he's one of those men who sees cooking, cleaning, shopping and thinking as women's business but feels all manly and useful with a pair of tongs in his hand.

Huge pot of veggie chilli, nachos & dips, potato wedges, jalapeno cornbread made with GF flour, salad & cheeses.

BBQ? Burgers, sausages and meat free sausages. Big Greek salad, easy to make. Bought coleslaw. Cous cous salad using the flavoured on a you just add water to with some spring onions and cucumber. Home made meringue and shop bought cheesecake

Your DH has volunteered you out for party hosting without your permission.

How can you not see how bad that is?

Plates of sandwiches- cheap and easy. Supermarket sausage rolls, quiche etc.

Buy the prepackaged Blinis from M&S or similar. Cream cheese and smoked salmon with lemon wedges for meat eaters and cream cheese with black pepper for veggies. Takes about 5 mins, pleases everyone. I stole this from my London Uncle.

I leave advice on the real food to everyone else 😂

Sounds a fun way to spend the bank holiday to me! If you have time I agree with chilli and currys, baked potatoes, rice and fries? Sides and fillers like Doritos, samosas, different breads ect? Are kids going to be going?

His gathering, his responsibility, all of it. Come on.

<Pushes aside the ^who should cook/shop/His Party His Problem?

I'm a vegetarian and not an egg lover (so not a quiche fan)
Chilli can be made the day before to mature

Chilli done with Linda McCartney mince ( not Quorn) if you have a slow cooker , even better . Mince, chillis ,paprika tinned tomato , onions, garlic, tinned red kidney beans
Meat chilli ( as above but with meaty mince)
Roast peppers and mushrooms with couscous ( much easier than rice)
Some salad, grated cheese, sour cream, nacho chips , bread/garlic bread, guacamole, salsa
Some potato wedges maybe

Dessert - fruit salad / something chocolate/ cheesecake

Sounds a fun way to spend the bank holiday to me!

Jumping because your husband's clicked his fingers is a fun way to spend a bank holiday?

Can you quickly make a group chat and get everyone to bring something??