Hosting with 'nibbly bits' is a total pain

[Itsallfunngamesuntil]

Having about twelve people round to ours for Boxing Day.....about one third of the group is vegetarian.

I've already said I'll just make a huge veggie lasagne (I'm a decent cook). Lots of friends suggesting that we can all do nibbles to take the pressure off me (has been a pretty stressful year). Nice of them to think of me, but just wondering on other people's thoughts on this and whether I'm overthinking it. Thanks (ps I'm not a fan of the word nibbles, but was struggling for an alternative lol)

AINBU - much easier to feed a large crowd with a proper meal of veggie lasagne that can be prepped a few days in advance and you are not up and down constantly to the oven and back to the table again checking on when the 'nibbles' are ready.....it also interrupts the conversation flow

AIBU - nibbles are much handier. No prepping involved n getting up n down to the table is not a hassle

whats With the veg lasagne hate?! Sounds lovely OP! Why not do your main and then ask friends to bring nibbles/ picky bits to go with it but stipulate only nibbles that don’t require cooking- best of both worlds!

@ShirleyPhallus, @BigBouncyBaubles, you've created a monster between the two of you.

My former neighbour now probably delightedly re-jigging her dinner invitations to read:

"Join us for casual kitchen sups and sipsies"

<silently screams>

(Sorry for de-rail, OP).

*derail, even.

Ah I was wrong in my first post. 'nibbles and sipsies' was the phrase I saw.

Yes, but were they picky nibbles with the sipsies?

🤔

No, you definitely made it clear!

Let’s just go with ‘it’s not you, it’s them’!

MumsNetters are not known for brilliant reading comprehension. 🤣

If you are good enough to host you do what’s good for you !
Hope it goes well, Happy Christmas x

Ps. Nibbly bits are total pain in arse and don’t happen in our gaff !

Agree that they are a PITA. Too many different things to prepare and people will eat a lot more when there is a variety. Things like sausage rolls are not healthy.
Having to double up on veggie options because everyone will eat them etc.
The lasagne is easier to prepare and filling.
It sounds like a lovely meal.

Risotto isn't a big all in shove it in the oven meal for multiple guests. It's something which needs to be perfectly cooked and seasoned to be any good, and served straight away.

Risotto isn't a big all in shove it in the oven meal for multiple guests. It's something which needs to be perfectly cooked and seasoned to be any good, and served straight away.
which probably explains why pub/restaurant ones are usually inedible slop

I really would not fancy a lasagne on boxing day, after Christmas day overindulgence. You don't need to heat anything up...this is what I'd do:
Baguettes
Salad(s)
Cheese board
Some meats, leftover pigs in blankets
Quiche
Onion tart
Crackers
Some veg and dips
Job done!

send this in WhatsApp:

”chatting to a few of you we have a few votes for lasagne and some for nibbles. I will make a lasagne everyone can help themselves too with some plates with garlic bread. If everyone can bring some nibbles for over already made, or if you fancy don’t. Yourself, we can put those out too so we can share them and all have a pick of whatever we fancy. Look forward to seeing you”.

Do both. Spread the cost. Sorted.

@Desperado40 , that looks a lot more stodgy than a veg lasagne with salad, not to mention more costly and more faff.
@PloddingAlong21 , your Whatsapp group would think you'd had too much festive cheer if they read that.

I’m doing a Christmas sandwich subway style thing for Boxing Day. Shredded chicken breasts with stuffing/brussell sprout coleslaw/cheeses/cranberry/chutney and people just assemble them themselves on a production line. Did it last year for DC2 Dec birthday party and people are still taking about it now so..!

19 members of immediate family.

@KirstenBlest It looks like it but then there is no pressure to sit down and eat something you may not necessarily like.
So you can just get something small, or pile your plate if you want. It is about having the choice.

Depends what you mean by nibbles. Frozen junk food - no.
Salads, nice bread, cheese, meats, olives etc great. None of the good stuff needs oven.
Do you have a table and chairs for 12? Hate eating sloppy food that needs knife and fork on my lap so would do finger food unless you can seat 12 round a table

That message makes no sense

@WillowCraft I admit some fat fingered auto corrects in there around the middle I didn’t clock. Oops, silly me.

However it also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was meant,
so think the vast majority on here will get the idea.

@Desperado40 , sitting round a table is more civilized, and you could always ask for a small portion. Grazing on sausage rolls and crisps and the like would probably mean you take in far more calories but not feel like you'd had a meal.

Excellent idea.
Am pinching that. Thanks.

Veggie lasagna is a pretty bland/unexciting meal for hosting festivities to be honest! I’d do a buffett of some sort if that’s what people want.

I agree cooking lots of bits on different oven timings would be a hassle, but you can do a good spread of mostly cold foods.

Veggie quiches to serve cold plus cheese and crackers, cold meats, pickled onions, grapes, olives, crisps and dips. I'd rather that to a veggie lasagne on boxing day.

Your Christmas, your way!