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!

Better check with DH is he has forgotten to tell what details he had agreed with people, maybe they have already planned what they are bringing, especially if you have to cater for dietary requirements

It's going to be hot isn't it, so not baked potatoes or chilli.

A massive fritatta (cook onions and potatoes tomorrow)
Hummus and other dips
Salad Niçoise
Tabbouleh (got a great recipe if you need it, it's v quick) or couscous
Caprese salad
Green salad
Cheese board
New potatoes
Bread selection
Gluten free breads
Strawberries and cream

I'd do a whole salmon which is quick and easy.
A meat platter (ham, salami, chicken)
Vegetarian quiches
Lightly fried halloumi
Green salad (4 bags of caesar)
Tomato and mozzarella salad with basil and black olives
Big bowl of new potatoes
Plenty of garlic bread
Bought coleslaw and been salads

Bowl of fresh strawberries, good vanilla ice cream and mini flakes.

Plenty of wine and beer and cans of pop (lemonade and coke) and Plenty of water jugs.

Some nuggets from Iceland?
mumsnet love them!

Can you get a last min early morning food delivery?

I wouldn’t cook, it would be party food I.e meats, cheeses, ready cooked sausage rolls, pasties, crackers, nice breads, maybe some cooked bits, lots of tapas that can be thrown in the oven or air fryer quickly preferably at the same time and can also be left out so don’t need to be served hot. A few different salads and dips/sauces, again preferably just ordered in.

Desert would be similar, platters of fresh fruit, fruit salad, meringue nests, cream, sauces, cheese cakes, variety of brownies and other nibble sweet cakes that can just be put on platters and no prep required.

I’ve just done the same for 20 people, it was so nice and easy, the bulk was ready to just put out when everyone arrived and a quick change between mains and deserts.

Edited - I hadn’t seen others comments or your updates OP, I have a DH with adhd so fully get the conversation he had in his head and not actually with me. He’s thrown a few things my way in the past.

Other than that, SMORGASBORD.
If they don't like string strong cheeses or Pintxo-esque delicacies, delete them all from your friends list.

Morrisons! They do deli quiches, much larger than normal. Get the veggie.and the meaty one. Then buy a fritata for the gf guest.

Then you go the salad bar and fill up large containers with single salads. As many as you need. Get coleslaw, some cherry tomatoes and carrot batons.

Then buy some baguettes, crackers some cheese, chutney and fruit like apples or grapes.

Voila.

I would tell people that you’ve only just heard about DH’s arrangement and need to cancel as it’s not enough notice. No way would I be spending my bank holiday weekend catering for 18 people that I hadn’t been involved in inviting!

Exactly this - you help him with it if you wish, but shouldn’t he be doing the emotional labour of figuring out what meals will work for everyone? Why are you primarily responsible for fixing his problem and he’s the helper? Zero incentive to make changes and manage his ADHD symptoms in effective manner if you swoop in and save the day any time he does this.

I've catered for about that number before on a student budget. Recommending (as so many have before me) curry: 2 large pans, one veggie, one meaty. Other two pans for rice, plus a large bowl of rice in the microwave, plus (if you have one) another large bowl of rice in the rice cooker. If you have time to do the prep in advance, having another panful of curry ready to go in the fridge so you can get it heating up as soon as the first pan gets emptied sorts out seconds for the big eaters. You can also put more rice on the second the first two pans are emptied. If you've got a local Indian who will deliver, doing an order of their good breads would also help fill up the guests and keeps the gluten away from your kitchen.

This kind of post makes me want to run off to a forest and become a zen monk

If he was my H I'd tell him we're not having a party because he arranged it without running it by me first.

Why is he helping you when it's not your party? Because he has a penis?

Cancel it. If it was me who had plans on a bank holiday I’d be delighted if they were cancelled 😁

Since OP hasn't indicated her DH being a twat in any way, the idea of a charcuterie and cheese plate, fruit plate, a couple salads or three, a large pot of rice with a veggie curry, and ice cream for dessert would be lovely.
I'd serve soft drinks only. Maybe add in some Perrier.

Eh? Why are most of you wittering on about quiches and ordering Domino's?

He's arranged a party. He can decide what to buy, go out and get it, prep it and sort the house out etc.

I think if I was the OP I'd be heading out early for a day at the beach and not coming back until late.

As a coeliac - any meat, veg, potatoes if wanting to serve something bigger - curry or chilli (with the right sauces) any questions let us know! I’d always be happy to double up with the veggies and have something that’s veggie and gluten free as well! So maybe a vegetable curry with rice?

This sort of thread is mental.

The response should be 'are you having a fucking laugh' and let him sort the finer details out.

If you're not sure what's gluten-free, do check online before you buy/serve it although the coeliacs will probably know anyway.

Several of the suggestions above which you might think are g-f are not, eg couscous (it's wheat ground into a coarse grain called semolina) and Linda McCartney mince (contains malted barley). Sausages, especially vegetarian ones, often contain wheat or malted barley, as do many other vegetarian meat substitutes. Many Quorn products contain wheat, apart from the mince, chunks, fillets and frozen 'bacon'.

If nobody is both coeliac and vegetarian, it will be much easier.

Well done for taking on this catering challenge.

I have ADHD. I have never invited 18 prople to lunch and then given my spouse two day's notice while expecting him to cater. Then asking for the shopping list! I suppose at least he didn't tell you Monday morning. I just don't buy his story. I mean adults with ADHD usually have worked out a few systems for remembering to do things - like keeping a list. That's how we stay employed and don't drive our spouses crazy.

Pulled pork in slow cooker and hot Italian sausages cooked in pasta sauce. With fresh rolls for the pulled pork & sausages, and buy (or make) garden salad and a Caesar salad. My friend bought a lot of cans of chili and heated them up in a stock pot, threw in canned corn and passed it off as hers. Lol but it was very good. Short notice but if your dh will set up the table and cut the rolls, buy flowers for the table do anything you need him to, make or buy for the special dietary needs of of the guests, it's not that bad. Just that you don't have much time to prepare. Buy a variety of tarts, brownies and similar.
Too bad about the sports day taking a full day ugh.

Just get him to go to M&S and get buffet items. Don't cook anything. Or get him to phone everyone and cancel.

This would be an absolute non-starter for me. No way would I put up with doing all the donkey work for 18 unknown people randomly invited. Who alone even knows who each of those people are? I bet your DH doesn't have a guest list. So has he given all these people your address? Presumably 9 couples or don't you know that detail?

I had some unknown people join a party I threw many years ago and guess what, my watch went missing never to be seen again. That put me off having random individuals in my house.

OP you're absolutely nuts going along with this, The thin end of a very pointy wedge. If you put up with it this time, it gives your DH license to pull off stunts like this, without consulting you first.

dont be such a doormat!

Why on earth do you need to make any plans to cater for these guests? Surely it is up to your husband to do the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. He invited 18 guests, therefore he is responsible for the party. You can assist him, of course, if you want to. But the menu and the majority of the preparation should be up to him.