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

To answer you question of course one dish flung in the oven is easier than planning essentially a buffet for a group,. Lasagne is super simple to make, even if you do change the method as you suggest.

To veer off your question Lasagne is also one of the heaviest, stodgiest foods I can imagine and the thought of that on boxing day is making me feel ill and we haven't even had Christmas Dinner. Really mo one wants a heavy meal on boxing day do they.

Why can't you suggest a cold buffet very easy to do or bring a dish and assign a type of dish to everyone and you pick up the rest.

You’ve done a big veggie lasagne for the vegetarians so do a big pot of chilli for the meat eaters & a lasagne as a second option do it with jacket spuds; all can be made in advance & frozen just whip it out Christmas Day night to defrost; whack the lasagnes in the oven with the jacket spuds & garlic bread put the chilli on the hob; chop up a bit of salad & put in a huge bowl get everyone sat down & tuck in it will go down a storm & you’ll be the hostess everyone will be talking about for months for all the right reasons x

Lasange is definitely boring for boxing day. Sorry. I bet that's what they are thinking!

Lasange is definitely boring for boxing day. Sorry. I bet that's what they are thinking!
I agree.
Hosting lots of nibbles is an expensive way to host and I'd not be doing it, but a veggie lasagna is a normal week meal or friend's coming round for a pot luck dish.

I love lasagne, but I never make it, because I always think its too fiddly. Is it easy? Surely it's 3x the work of other pasta dishes (make bolognese, make white sauce, layer up, cheese on top etc)
Sil often makes a lasagne for us when we visit. I'm always thrilled because it's something I dont do at home. Her and Dbro live near my best friend so I visit both on the same weekend. When I tell her about the lasagne she thinks my family are keeping her as some kind of slave!

Boxing day is just cold leftovers in this house. Chucked on the table with some coleslaw, par baked rolls and bubble and squeek

Yes it takes ages to make especially as I roast the veg beforehand also. But I just want to spend time chatting with all my friends as we rarely see each other and a lot of us (including me) have had an extremely tough year

Anyway.....Will be setting salads, garlic bread, crusty bread, lasagne, cold meats fr Christmas Day, crisps, cheeses, condiments, dessert all on my kitchen island and everyone can help themselves and sit down at table 😃

Sounds like you got it sussed now!

Who in the world talks about vegetarian lasagne and jacket potatoes for months on end? Your group chat must be off the chain.

I dont know about you, but my friends and I havent stopped going on about Margaret's toasted sandwiches since we popped round in September. Honestly she has been the talk of the town.

Lovely they were. In the Breville.

If you want to make a proper meal that's up to you. Your house, your rules.They can do nibbles when it's their turn to host.

I always think that with ‘nibbles’ you can end up with too much food and it requires a lot of fridge space which I just never have.
or if, like thes rest of my family u you ku are heartens, nibbles literally means a bowl of crisps and a bowl of nuts which isn’t a meal in my book!!

if it were me I’d do l lasagne, bread, salad and coleslaw. If they don’t find something they like, it’s one meal if the day and they can eat more when they get home!!

I know I am veggi but surely not prawns for a buffet 🤑

Who serves jacket potatoes with lasange ?

Anybody who wants to and doesn’t give a fuck about the Food Police, perhaps?

Your idea of a proper meal is fab. I hate nibbles - over processed and over priced.
I would be really appreciative if my host on Boxing Day went to the trouble of cooking a proper dinner after cooking on Christmas Day too.
Btw I do the same on Boxing Day except mine isn’t lasagna i make the Greek version a pasticcio or a moussaka

Do a cold platter then no oven
Meats
Crisps
Nice bread
Camembert / Brie
Crackers
Olives
Pate
Veg sticks
Mince pies
Yule log
Done

What on earth is wrong with the word "nibbles"? Is it too close to nipples or something? 🤷🏻‍♀️🧐

What on earth is wrong with the word "nibbles"? Is it too close to nipples or something?
No specific issue to me with the word, but when I hear people saying they're serving "nibbles" I think of a hamster or rabbit, or if said for a meal (as opposed to mean a light bite with a drink) then I assume they're going to offer not enough food.

One of my relatives used to serve nibbles and picky teas. My experience is that it's assorted bits of limited substance and I'm probably going to end up hungry.

Nothing so logical. It's just...🫨

Like Moist.

We’ve decided on ‘help yourself’ Chilli & Rice, with some Indian ‘nipples’ (Samosas, Onion Bajis etc), Baclava and Mince Pies. Job done!

go with Marks food if you can, another good tip I'd say if you have a mini heated trolley type thing, it's good, saves panicking so much.!When I cooked the full roast, get the pots done then sprouts, sausages etc.

There's a lot of food angst on this thread. When I go to visit someone, I go to see them. Am not really bothered about the food, as it's only one meal out of a great many, and if I'm not keen I can have something else when I get home.

Vegetarian lasagna' is the most depressing meal ever.
I see you and I raise you a mushroom risotto.

I see you and raise you a pretend meat vegetarian burger

Im veggie, i would not eat a vegetable lasagne, nibbles all the way, quiche ,cheese and onion rolls ,cobs ,cheese and crackers, salad bowl crisps ect.

I'm a veggie and love vegetable lasagne. Nibbles are only ok occasionally. I prefer a proper meal.