What food would you provide for a party?

[miniaturepixieonacid]

I'm having a party for around 15 adults in my small house. It's not a dinner party but it's from 7pm so I'm thinking I need to provide some food of some description.

I have an eating disorder and am massively socially anxious (I don't have anxiety) so I will be second guessing and over thinking this all week. I have no idea what 'normal' food should be in terms of either content or amount and I never do parties, this is only after being put under peer pressure!

I can't get the oven in the house to work but the hob is fine and I also have a microwave and air fryer.

I was thinking:
crisps and dips
veg sticks and dips
french bread and butter
brownie bites/mini flapjacks or similar
sweets - as in haribo/skittles/smarties kind of 'in a bowl' candy?!

And now I'm stuck. Help what else do I need?! Meat and cheese slices? Or is that gross if it's on a table? I feel like it is.

Will they be expecting a meal, or just snack food? Maybe ask the guest you are closest to, and get their advice.

Nuts? As opposed to the sweet stuff

Not haribo unless you have little kids attending.

Maybe a cheese board and crackers with grapes? It’s not gross to leave cheese out… straight from the fridge is terrible and flavourless!

Some berries to go with the brownie bites maybe.

Nuts/olives always good too and easy.

But otherwise sounds yummy so long as everyone knows it’s drinks and nibbles! 7pm is an ambiguous time so you don’t want anyone turning up ravenous thinking they’re sitting down for 3 courses.

I’d add charcuterie with the cheese and maybe some olives. You’re going to have to be very clear that people need to have eaten dinner first.

Thank you.

Yes, I'm going to say it's drinks and snacks but not a meal, meal.

I would do french sticks, butter, a selection of cheeses, paté, cold meats and some grapes, celery, nuts & fresh peaches or apricots. Crisps and dips and a couple of frozen desserts like cheesecake or roulade. Simple, filling and doesn't require any cooking.

I find people eat quite a lot at such gatherings...better to over cater than under cater.

Crisps/pitta/crudités and dips

Olives, peanuts

Then I'd get in a load of party stuff ..like mini sausages, sausage rolls, mini samosas, mini spring rolls, canape type things.

Cheese and charcuterie board with bread

As for sweet stuff...I wouldn't do too much, I find it's often not eaten unless there's lots of kids there ..but a few tubs of those mini flapjacks/brownies would probably be dipped into so good idea there.

Thank you @Endofyear , that does sound good. Also sounds a lot more expensive than I was initially planning for but it is a once in a blue moon thing for me to entertain people so it won't kill me to do it properly!

I'll also add the party type stuff @Comedycook suggests. Irritatingly, 2 of my friends are practically gourmet chefs (not by profession, I just mean they're very good and love doing it) so giving them shop bought stuff makes me anxious. Thy would probably offer to bring contributions if I said I was nervous but I'm more friendly with their wives than them so don't want to say anything or make it look like I don't want to do the work/spend the money myself. I will follow the shopping lists above and cross my fingers!

As others have said go more savoury! Sausage rolls, olives, cheese, charcuterie, bread sticks with hummus and nice dips, crackers, nice sourdough, french bread, crisps, etc etc

spring rolls cooked from frozen in the air fryer in 7-8 mins

Spanish omelette/ tortilla sliced into wedges, hot or cold

Platter of cheese, 6-7 large wedges, boursin, goats cheese roll etc, with plenty of crackers

Bowl of stoned olives

Fruit platter, Strawberries, cherries, figs, dates, whatever is in season

Flan / quiche / pizza