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

I'm another one who's not a fan of vegetarian lasagne. I would probably have about 3 mouthful to be polite and end up starving and unhappy!
Nibbly/picky bits don't have to be hot - and don't have to be difficult. Cheeses and biscuits/bread with chutneys/salad/fruit, a couple of pizzas, some pigs in blankets or similar and whatever you have in leftover meat etc. Maybe some falafel or something in case your vegetarian guests are all cheesed out 😁

Im amazed how many people hate lasagne! Given that lasagne us a lot of work to make even if a breeze when serving, don't do both. I think accept the bits.

I hate lasagna but agree a main is easier than rubbish beige mouthfuls of tasteless, indeterminate nibbles.

Just woken up.....so thanks for all the comments everyone.

Sorry for drip feed but I know my friends well and know that all like veggie lasagne..... sorry, should have said that in opening statement, and have been told before that my veggie lasagna is the nicest they've ever eaten (don't think they were joking)

There will also be salad, garlic bread and cold nibbley bits eg crisps and crackers and cold meats from Christmas day....it's more the total and utter faff of heating food for different timings and getting up n down that is a pain in the ass for me. ....plus the expense, as others have said.

I'm working again the next day (no days off apart from stat ones) so was trying to make things a bit easier for me, especially as I'm feeding about ten family members full Christmas dinner the day before

This is precisely what I was trying to avoid lol

I'll have hosted and cooked Christmas Dinner the day before for about ten in family......so I'm trying to reduce the stress a bit for Boxing day and save my own sanity lol

They are a normal thing. Not so much ham but salami, chorizo, sliced deli meats. Aldi is good value for that sort of thing.

What you have planned sounds delicious to me.

Id tell them it’s very kind of them to offer but you’re really keen to make the lasagna and could they please bring the salad/garlic bread/ dessert etc. Tell them you’re worried about oven space and constantly getting things out, checking on them rather than just shoving the lasagna in the oven and leaving it for 40 minutes.

Oh I love a veggie lasagna...

I would have said 'nibbly bits' is houmous and veg sticks, olives, bit of cheese and crackers, something cooked in the oven at 180 for 20 mins (one year M&S had a whole range and that needed the same temp for the same length of time and I admit I thought whoever came up with that deserved a damehood).

I'd enjoy either as a guest, and as a host I can imagine serving either. So it's entirely your decision as the host in this case.

Lasagne and let them add. Personally I loathe nibbly bits, always so carby/salty/processed. Much rather have real food.

I mean veg lasagna isn’t my favourite, but if I’m going to someone’s house and they’ve catered, I say “thanks! It’s delicious!” And if necessary have some toast when I get home.

You’re the host, you decide. But FWIW most supermarket canapés cook at the same temp for similar times these days.

Personally I'd be a bit underwhelmed to be given a veggie lasagna on Boxing Day.

Buy party food and a shitload of salad, cheeses, olives, things in jars and fruit from supermarket.

On the day, put mini sausage rolls into oven and open packets of quorn stuff. Tip onto big plates.

Put salad stuff into bowl(s). Open jars and put cutlery on side next to paper plates (or real ones if you have a dishwasher).

Watch people deal with their own meal, enjoying fresh stuff instead of roasties as you sip your fizz.

Nibbly bits every time

Dips, veggie sticks, crisps, nuts, cheeses, sliced meats, smoked salmon, prawns, you could cook some egg muffins (quite crustless quiches), pigs in blankets, hot nuts etc etc

Lasagne is too heavy

I like veggie lasagna, I make it with blue cheese and three different fillings on different layers. It goes really nicely with slow roasted pork.

I also adore mushroom risotto, I use truffle oil for extra flavour and personally I serve with strips of rare flat iron steak, I'm not vegetarian!

Missing the point but I also hate the term nibbles/nibbly bits or even worse picky bits 🤮 makes me think of picking a scab/nose. Here we just call it canapés or party food. I’d just get a load of supermarket food and pre prepared salads which I’ve always found very easy. M&S and Sainsbury’s do good ones.

Where is the joy in a veggie lasagna? Why it's one of my favourite things and much more joyous than salty processed bits

See different people like different things

Are they bringing the bits before declaring what's easier for you?

agree with another poster it is more expensive and time consuming on the day.

lasagnes and few garlic bread sticks, bowl of salad is really easy and yum!

Personally, I find nibbly bits get very expensive very quickly.
Same here, especially when people want large cheeseboards and charcuterie boards, olives, antipasti, range of nice chutney.
Add in the disdain some people have for anything beige or frozen party food as well and it's a very expensive way to cater.

Unless other people are going to be contributing more than a bag of crisps and dip, I'd prefer to host a proper meal.

I’d love a veggie lasagne- delicious.

I agree that getting people to bring nibbles is more complicated and (for me) wouldn’t actually lighten the load at all as I have a terrible fear of under-catering and would find it quite stressful not to know what everyone was going to bring- fear of ending up with 3 packs of Pringles and nothing else- so would probably cook a full meal anyway. So for me just making a lasagne would be by far the easier option.

Vegan lasagne is one of my favourite meals, definitely in my top 5. The longer-than-my-usual preparation/cooking time plus all the cheesy creaminess makes it feel really indulgent. I'd be very happy if someone served me that on Boxing Day.

I'm confused. Surely they're suggesting nibbly stuff because they're offering to bring it, ready to serve? So it shouldn't need extra time in the oven etc?

If you've got a group chat going I think you could just say that lasagna works for you as it's minimal work on the day. But if people prefer to bring stuff, you'd like it to be things that are ready to serve (and don't need further prep, heating or extra serving dishes when they get to your house). And specify what you could provide (eg bread, big salad, hummus) so they can add things that complement that...

Nibbly bits are usually a random mish mash of supermarket boxed things which become too dry when cooked. It's extra annoying having to prep and cook multiple things with multiple timings.

You need extra crockery to serve everything and extra cutlery for all the dips and sides. You then need to wash it all up.

As lasagne is easier and tastier.

If I was going to do nibbles I'd just do a big plate of meat (parma ham etc), one of smoked salmon and a big cheeseboard with bread, grapes & crackers. That way no cooking involved, just stick everything out on big plates & you're done. You could maybe add one hot thing (baked camembert?) as a token hot dish.

Otherwise I'd say they were welcome to bring & prep nibbles if they want but you'll be doing lasagne. I agree that having to constantly move trayfuls of processed supermarket party bits in and out of the oven is a right faff and you end up with a tableful of beige.