Light nibbles?

[Hanooooooo]

I am throwing a surprise 60th for my mum at her house for about 50 people. I'm going to get plenty of wine, beer and soft drinks in but definitely couldn't afford to do an "evening meal" amount of food for everyone coming. It starts at 7.30 on a Saturday and I have said in the email there will be light nibbles. I plan to provide olives, crisps and nuts. AIBU?

Oh and I'd definitely have eaten a proper meal before going to a party from 7:30 onwards

I'm intrigued as to how you will pull off the surprise as the party is in her house ??

I’d be horrified if 50 people came to my house without warning. I’d need to clean first and lock away breakables and private letters etc.

For food, I’d want things that are less likely to damage carpets and fabric sofas if they are spilt.

And I’d want cake

I would do those bake in the oven sausage rolls, humous and carrot sticks/cucumber sticks for vegan and or healthy types, if you can get some help, knock up sandwiches

Definitely have a look at Iceland party food. It's not as cheapskate as the perceived view of it, but it is cheap & super easy. For the most part all you need to do is to let it defrost or bung it in the oven for 12 minutes.

You don't need to do a full buffet at all, just finger food. Not everyone will want to eat, but those that do will eat more than you expect. Mini sausage rolls, samosas, onion bhajis etc. Food that goes straight into peoples mouths & doesn't need cutlery or serving bowls.

Post covid, I think bowls of crisps for 50 people to tuck into are not advisable

For s party at 7.30pm, I think you need filling snacks, or people will all drift home when they get hungry

BBC Good Food had a good recipe for mini toad in the hole.you can make in advance and cook from frozen

And sandwiches are cheap, easy and filling

Or ask a few people to bring a plate of canapes. Most people are happy to help

It's lovely that you're hosting this for your mum. Please don't feel under pressure to spend/cook/prepare loads otherwise you'll neved relax and won't be able to enjoy this special family evening!

I voted YABU because I think most reasonable adults will have understood the wording on the invitation & eaten their meal beforehand.

Crisps, nuts & olives are grand as snacks with drinks. If you are worried about people arriving/getting hungry, how about adding a few ciabbattas with olive oil & balsamic vinegar?

Complements the nuts/olives/crisps, bulks it out for anyone who needs carbs and doesn't cost lots of money or prep time?

I meant...I voted YANBU!

Morrisons do amazing party food have a look at their website and it's not expensive

Christ no. Sorry. If money is the problem go to Iceland or somewhere and just buy TONNES of cheap canapé stuff.

Hmmmmm so tricky - there are very varying opinions! Personally if I was going to a party I definitely wouldn't rely on being fed and would line my stomach beforehand as I'm much more focused on drinking and chatting at a party.

But there are a significant amount of people saying they'd expect more and I definitely don't want people to remember it as a hungry party! So I think I may consider the Iceland option.

My uncles are taking my mum for dinner beforehand and she thinks she's going to a showing of something afterwards, they'll then pull up to the house with all her friends waiting!

She will definitely love it don't worry, she was talking about having a party herself but I encouraged her not to bother .

You can't invite people over at dinner time and just give them light nibbles IMO.

Oh and re it being crowded, welp everyone is invited now! I will update you on how that goes.

I would make a couple of big cakes!

Savoury stuff go for filling things, plates and plates of sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiches.

I don't think it really matters what you do, so long as you're very clear about what you're offering and people know what to expect

You have offered "light nibbles", so I think people will expect canapes / snacks of some description

Try to offer a mix of meat / veg / fish. And remember some people may be gluten free / vegan etc

Here are some easy suggestions which look pretty -

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tiny-toads (use cooked cocktail sausages. Or, just do the Yorkshire pudding, and after cooking, add a bit of horseradish and sandwich sliced roast beef. You can cook these in advance, and reheat in oven for a couple of minutes. Or cook, freeze and then reheat from frozen)

ketocanape.com/recipe/tomato-basil-mozzarella-canapes/

priceless-magazines.com/recipes/mangetout-wrapped-prawn-skewers-with-lemon-mayonnaise/

Smoked salmon or hummous on rye bread

I've never come across 'light nibbles' but I would say that what what you are describing definitely only comes under 'drinks' which is fine if your guests are forewarned and I would certainly be eating beforehand if I was clear as to what would be offered.

We accepted an invite once for 'drinks and nibbles' at 7pm which the nibbles turned out to be just couple of bowls of crisps, nobody had eaten beforehand as they were expecting a few sausage rolls or sandwiches so most left early to go and get something to eat because (certainly in my experience) there is only a certain amount of wine that can be drunk on an empty stomach before things get messy.