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

Sorry, thought it was obvious I was asking the poster I tagged, who wrote that their family is vegetarian but she's cooking a turkey.

I think a fish lasagne would push me over the edge 🤢🤢🤢🤢

My FiL used to tell us to just do cold cuts on boxing day rather than a hot meal. We did a hot meal a couple of times and it was a lit less work.

YANBU
I would be saving myself the faff and buying the giant lasagnas from Cook, though. Bags of salad, dressing, crusty bread (bake at home). Cheeseboard and a pudding.

I love my friends and if they invite me for a meal I don’t mind what it is. I think one dish is a million times easier than multiple bits and pieces.

Oh God! You've just reminded me of something! I worked somewhere with a microwave oven in a little room off the main (big) open plan office. A very nice woman used to bring in Tupperwares and warm them up for her lunch. One day - an awful stink - everyone moaning - her tuna lasagne!!! She was told never to bring anything fishy ever again.

Who cares if people on here prefer lasagne or nibbles? Telling you (or "suggesting", as a host, what you should cook, is rude.

Could you do some smaller jacket potatoes and a couple of different toppings as an alternative? Serve with salad, tomatoes and cucumber, if you want to you could also add coleslaw or some other bits. It’s kind of halfway between a buffet and a main meal and people can have one or two potatoes depending on their appetite.

Is it the fish or a general dislike of casserole dishes?

I love lasagne al salmone.

Tell them you don’t mind sticking with the lasagna, garlic bread and salad but they are welcome to bring any extra nibbly bits they want for everyone to share?

Go for veggie lasagne! Nibbles are a nightmare - who knows what will be brought and if it's enough etc. if you make a meal then it's in your control and no stress. As a veggie in a non veggie family, we love lasagne and it sound delicious. I'm a bit shocked by the lasagne hate today!!

How does it sound delicious? OP hasn’t said what’s in it.

We are a small number on Boxing Day this year so probably just have a sandwich pickle day.
But I have a larger group on 27th and have decided that I am roasting. End of. Don't care if you had a roast two days prev. It'll be different meat anyway.

I'm sick of spending ages on buffets, and things that only need cooking for 20 minutes, and salads that go limp if tossed too early and loads and loads of little plates and bowls and platters. And it takes so looong for everyone to fill their plates and sit down for a toast.
DH and I have our roast strategy down to a tee after all these years so can tag team on it and it'll just be a few serving dishes.

Nibbly are an expensive pain in the arse for the host. Lasagne any day, and as others have said guests can bring what they like.

My idea of nibbles is nuts, crisps and maybe some chocolates. It wouldn't even occur to me that it would be stuff like spring rolls etc. If your friends suggestion of nibbles is stuff that needs to be heated in the oven, which you don't particularly want to do, why not just thank them all for thinking of you, but you'd find it easier to just make one meal for everyone. If they're your friends, they'll be fine with your answer.

I find a main meal easier as you can do the prep before people arrive. We always end up doing a slow cooker curry & pizzas. So much easier

Picky bits are gods food and is about all we eat December-early January 😂

If we’re having a big family get together we’ll usually have:
Side of Salmon
Cheese and onion loaded potato skins
Cured meats
Crudites
chicken skewers (the sticky frozen Tesco ones are good!)
cheese and pineapple sticks
crisps/nuts
olives
balsamic tomato bruschetta
little sausages
mini scotch eggs
quiche
cheese board with chutneys, grapes ect.

if it’s a smaller amount of people, say under 8 of us then it’s usually just a cheese board with cured meats, olives and some balsamic roasted tomatoes with crusty bread for dipping.

Sorry......it was! I replied too quickly

When catering it isn't even the prep and serving (both more time consuming if you aren't doing a single dish) but also the thought and planning that is hard work. In your position I would also want to be making one dish I've made before that people like.
I think the answer is "hi. I only have time to make a lasagne and can't manage something more elaborate. But if you'd all like to organise the catering and bring contributions please do and I will happily wash up and provide drinks etc"
That's what I'd say to friends (and have done in this position). If they want to, let them, but minimise the load on yourself.

YANBU - nibbles actually is not easy and as you said doing one big meal like lasagna/ chilli etc. is way easier. Do a big batch and people pretty much can help themselves, not too much prep and you know people have had something substantial.

After the full shebang on Christmas Day I’d much rather drinks and a few nibbly bits (or 'drinks and sipsies' as I once saw it described on MN! The horror) on the 26th than sitting down to a veggie lasagne. But you’re the host so it’s your call.

I agree. And it's expensive to feed a number of people nibbles, i always end up buying a trolley full because I never know what would be enough. I'd much rather make a big lasagne too

Just compromise and do picky bits

I mean you're hosting so you get final say but I would probably provide a lasagna and let them bring salad, bread, dips , drinks or dessert etc so they're still contributing but it's not anything that requires the oven?

Oh god I thought it couldn’t get worse but seeing words fish and casserole in the same sentence… that makes me feel a bit queasy