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 can confirm that from a non-meat eater’s POV this sounds lovely.

My go to when having large groups to cater to

https://www.panningtheglobe.com/ottolenghis-roast-chicken-zaatar-sumac/

for veggie one I do exactly the same )leaving out the chicken obviously) with sweet potato, mushrooms, butternut squash and whatever else I fancy vegetables wise.

I bake rice in the oven, never on the hob, it’s a game changer.

greek salad and Persian salad of tomato, green pepper, red onion, walnuts, sumac and pomegranate, with chopped coriander And parsley with pomegranate molasses dressing.

good luck.

Forgot to add dips, just get gluten free breadsticks/ pitta for everyone so no cross contamination (im gf intolerant,)

dessrts baked bananas with lemon juice, cinnamon and brown sugar, good ice cream and chocolate sauce. Melt galaxy, single cream and golden syrup for homemade sauce. Chopped nuts to go on top.

Costco platters are fab for these type of events.

Subway platter if not too short notice

Even sainsbury's And M&S foods have great party options

Yes, why the hell are you on here asking for advice when it’s HIS party? He’s not an infant. He should be the one tearing his hair out late Saturday night looking for ideas or you. He sounds like he thinks of you as his mummy and you’re there to happily sort out his mess. It’s his problem to sort - this will keep happening ADHD or not

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/triple-cooked-roast-potatoes These are another game changer but I use polenta as semolina isn’t gluten free! And can be prepared today or I’d get mini new potatoes roast in the oven with either zataar or oregano.

I like this menu and also offering solidarity as having a spouse with ADHD who has “conversations” with me, without me in them… Then also picks up on conversations halfway through: you can be minding your own business, having a cup of tea, and you get, “So after all, I think garlic bread for 10 not 18, since Daphne’s gluten-free and Ben’s on a diet.”

You can either huff around going “His party, his problem, I’m going out and leaving him to it” or you can help out without much effort and in return, see all your mates and have fun. It’s my birthday this weekend and as ever, NO ONE is around because everyone goes away summer bank holiday weekend. I’d enjoy an impromptu 18 people sprung on me! DP would do the shopping and cleaning though.

Anyway, definitely buffet/bought things – M&S and Waitrose exist for a reason, definitely check the details (has he told them pot luck? Promised anything specific? That’s on him), definitely not baked potatoes. I think I’d weep if I were invited to a party on the one summer bank holiday we get, and it turned out to be a baked potato party. Tragique.

I too am baffled that of 18 ppl apparently invited, not one has reached out to check if they can bring anything. The apparently is aimed at your husband btw, not questioning what you are saying. It may be a social circle thing but if any of my friends knew I was catering for that many people they’d all be chipping in to bring food (or offering to do so anyway).
Anyway, assuming it’s happening, I would do 2 big chillies - one veggie, one meat, alongside various bowls of rice / cheese / sour cream and Doritos. Have the hot sauce ready on the side to cater for different tastes and send husband out for lots of corona, lime and a selection of big desserts. Not too stressful. Good luck!

Lasagne always seems to hit the mark. Make a huge pot of meat ragu and another of veg (courgette, peppers, aubergines in a tomato sauce) today. Both are gluten free. Check any stock you use: some have gluten. Make loads of lovely cheesy sauce for the top.

Buy some gluten free pasta and serve that with either of the gluten-free meat or veggie sauces tomorrow for the coeliacs. They can have cheese on top.

Make up the lasagnes tonight, then leave them in the fridge. They'll taste all the better for having sat around for a day. Garlic bread, salads and you're done.

If you have apple trees or know anyone with apple trees (or plum trees) apple crumble is at this time of year a cheap and cheerful pudding that seems to please most people. Make the crumble with some oats and finish with dark brown sugar for a really crumbly, crunchy topping. Serve with cream, ice cream or custard. Prep and precook the apples/ fruit today and tomorrow, once you've taken the lasagnes out of the oven you just sprinkle crumble over a deep base of apple and bung it in. By the time people have eaten the lasagne, the crumble will be ready.

loads of food ideas already, so

people with adhd do have problems communicating what’s in their heads, yes. But you say he’s kind. What should have happened is when he remembered yesterday he should have set about solving it. Messaging his friends for help, creating a post on dadsnet, rushing about to the shops, making quiches etc begging you for help to make some sausage rolls etc

i understand adhd, but it’s not a get out clause to shift all work to other people.

Something simple

jackets potato’s, chilli filling for meat eaters,

a homemade chunky coleslaw, white and red cabbaged sliced very thin, spring onions, a bit of red onion, and grated carrot, mix with mayo, pimp it up with halved grapes and grated apple.

a big bowl of grated cheese (you can buy it if you wish).

(salad leaves etc if you want more for the plates, useful if a crowd)

french sticks and butter

get him to pop to supermarket and buy boxes of mini magnums for puddings.

hope you have a lovely day

OP doesn't indicate that's her pov, though.

You could cook or order some pizzas, do some potato salad, Greek salad, pasta & pesto salad, pop some ready made party food bits in the oven, bread & dips, crisps, do a tray of roasted veg and a tray of chicken strips with mini wraps and Mexican condiments for fajitas, cheese & crackers, cup cakes, fruit, scones with jam & clotted cream? Very annoying of hubby but you sound like a lovely couple and I bet you'll have a great time, even if it is winging it! X

Wider issues aside I am a bit nonplussed at some of these menu suggestions. It’s going to be 27° here tomorrow. Lasagne? Triple-cooked roast potatoes?!

One of my easy go to (not for veggies though) pigs in blankets hot dogs, wrap a load of normal sized sausages in streaky bacon and cook on mass in oven, serve with different sauces , salad, pickles, coleslaw (live this recipe ( www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/celeriac-coleslaw ) etc and air fryer some potato wedges to bulk it out , good luck!

Do you have a Costco near you?

if not, jacjet potatoes with lots of different quiche and salad?

Before you buy anything I would certainly check how many people are actually coming. A verbal invitation, some weeks ago, with no follow up from the host, and no enquiries from any guests would leave me doubtful…

I host a lot. IMHO the food is the least of your problems op unless you live in a mansion!

Is the weather forecast good?

Lunch party indicates a sit down meal. Do you have twenty or so chairs and place settings, plates, cutlery, glasses, and
enough tables and fridge space?

Eighteen is the max number of people I can cater for at home and that’s with a lot of planning and time and a second fridge.

If it’s sunny you might get away with it! And you do fork food so that people can eat standing up.

Or could your local curry place help you out? Delivered hot to eat immediately. Two vast vats of curry; one veggie and one not? A stack of naan bread? A huge vat of rice? Ask to borrow ladles?

Depends on how many children are coming?

You might have to order plain chicken tandoori skewers for them?

Make up jugs of Delia’s ice tea?
Plastic trugs or wheelbarrow full of ice containing beer and soft drinks, water?

Buy some bamboo bowls and sporks.

Even then you might need to borrow some stackable chairs?

Ice cream cones for afterwards if you have freezer space?

Otherwise I’d be ringing around to book a reservation for my nearest pub lunch. The food and drink ingredients for eighteen will probably add up to the price of a set menu nowadays anyway.

Other suggestions:

Order in pizza (do the budgeting first)
Make massive salads?

If you have a decent sized oven, cook lots and lots of sausages and spend the weekend slowly caramelising onions (takes a while) and buying condiments, pickles, and bread buns?

Someone I saw on Instagram borrowed all of her friends’ slow cookers and had about six of them set up along one table up against a wall bubbling away with various dishes inside? Guests helped themselves.

Otherwise agree with PP’s old cuts idea. Roast all weekend. And cut up and serve with salads on Monday. Need enough fridge space though.

Ring all of the guests and ask them to please bring a piece of cheese each and you provide wine, salads, crackers, baguettes and pickles?

menu depends if you have enough seating, assuming not so i’d go for buffet style that people can eat from their laps

Send him off to the shops to get some nice tapas style bits, and some foil. You can put together a grazing table. Include things like olives, cheese, cold meats which the coeliac can eat. And also get some bigger quiches you can heat in the oven and serve with a big salad. Warm so nice breads with olive oil / balsamic vinegar dip.

The same happened to me last week we were on holiday and realised some good friends were staying near by and so ended up inviting 18 people to our small villa for lunch. We had a great time. Just did crisps and drinks when they arrived, buffet, and then magnums but if you at home could ask people to bring deserts if they want to help. On the buffet we did some.warm French bread and the winner was Margarita pizzas as we then did some plates of cold meats, olives, cheeses, simple salad etc. people made sandwiches or added toppings to the pizzas or had a plate of salad with cold meat. Worked so well and people kept going back. Enjoy !!!!

Slow cooker hot chocolate on arrival. Big pot of beef stew and dumplings on the aga, with crumble and custard for pudding.

Surely this is your lovely kind husband’s problem to solve rather than yours as you don’t have time to cater for an unexpected party due to your existing commitments?

There are some truly horrible posts on here.

OP has stated that her DH is neurodivergent, feels terrible and she seems ok with this. I assume despite the short notice OP likes her friends and hosting and it's just a question of logistics, not criticism and judgement.

@Womblealongwithme OP You've had loads of good ideas on here - I like the idea of jacket potato bar with a variety of toppings personally - I easy win for the coeliacs and veggies and no problem to do in one oven.

You could do a veggie/meat chilli and curry option if you have the time but otherwise a big bowl each of tuna mayo, baked beans, cheese, coleslaw, coronation chicken. A big salad and a couple of dessert options would be lovely.

lol! “DH will be involved in prep!” I would be saying your party/ you prep and I’ll help.

what is it with these women who just go along with this shit