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

Lasagne and pudding
Nibbles will be a pain

Or a massive salad?

I feel like people generally say ‘we can just do nibbles’ not because they don’t like the other option, but because they’re genuinely trying to make less work. I think it’s like saying ‘I’m coming for the company, I don’t care what we have’

but maybe I’m wrong 😂

I like proper lasagna but any vegetarian version I've ever had has been awful 🫣

I also wouldn't want any kind of pasta dish on Boxing Day.

Maybe - but they also wouldn't be suggesting something they didn't actually want.

Oh definitely go for the lasagne! 100% the better option. A lasagne, salad and garlic bread is perfect and so much easier.

Completely agree that this is way better than people turning up with a random mishmash of brown oven food that all requires different temperatures and will have you stressing about oven times.

Put your lasagne in the oven and relax and enjoy Boxing Day! I think your guests suggesting bringing random ‘bits’ are probably just trying to show willing/ look helpful - and also, I would guess, don’t have much hosting experience?

Just tell them to bring booze/ drinks - or something for pudding, if they really want to bring something.

Enjoy your Boxing Day!

Well it varies so much, doesn't it? Some lasagnes are perfection, many are ...disappointing.

If your hosting a party it should really be what your guests comfort more than your own, no one likes a selfish host. A buffet doesn't have to be hard at all, you can buy lots of ready made bit, many things don't need cooking at all and it can apply to lots of tastes and requirements.

No one really seems to wants a random no option messy 'have to sit down with plate and cutlery' lasagna to eat when they just want to be mingling and chatting. I would much rather just munch on Dorritos or cold spring rolls etc... at a house party.

I also agree with others as a lifelong veggie I NEVER get veggie lasagna, its a dull and uninspired meal.

I agree. I think I am going to do a lasagne on one hosting day and a casserole on another. (Neither is actual Christmas).

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts

Seems to have gone down a bit of a rabbit hole where people are debating whether lasagne is nice or not lol.

My query was more about hot nibbly bits (oh i say Matron!) being a total PITA and who else agrees

Fwiw, my friends have told me in the past when i host ...we don't like coriander/eggplant/coconut milk ?(which im more than happy to accommodate).....so they would have mentioned if they didn't like veggie lasagne.

If anyone is interested I have my own lasagne recipe.....I cook the main tomato sauce for hours to let the flavours develop. Most of the other veggies eg mushrooms, courgette, squash, peppers etc I will roast separately, then add to the tomato sauce

For the bechamel sauce I always add in boursin and loads of grated cheese on top for last 15 mins

It is a bit non traditional, but have always had great feedback on it.....they might be lying of course lol 😉

I think on Boxing day maybe people want to sit around on sofas, maybe have a drink and some snacks rather than full blown sit down meal

I’m vegetarian and I don’t like any of the vegetables in your lasagna except tomato sauce. 😄

I’ve never had an amazing veggie lasagne, they’re always so wet, but I’d of course compliment it if it were served to me.

@DidiAskYouThough

Oh out of interest what veggies do you use?

I change mine each time, depending what I have to hand/what's on special at supermarket

All salads are always massive, aren't they? Or is it just on Mumsnet?

DH likes beefy ones, and they aren't exactly dry either. Not if they are any good.

Sounds lovely.

Love vegetarian lasagne

Are you also doing things like cold meat (turkey)

Jacket potatoes, salad, coleslaw, quiche?

A good beef lasagne if left to stand for a few mins once out of the oven firms up a bit. Vegetarian lasagnes tend to 'spread' and puddle a bit more. as there's more liquid in them,

I found the spinach cannelloni I made frozen beautifully and it was delicious it it was faffy

I'm confused -if people coming to me said THEY would bring "nibbles" to take the pressure off me and avoid me having to cook then I'd assume they would be cooking the nibbles in advance or bringing things that can be eaten cold.

Not that they would just all buy a load of party food I'd then need to cook because that defeats the whole object.

So maybe work out what they mean. Perhaps after a huge christmas dinner they literally don't want any sort of big meal and would genuinely prefer just nice bread, dips, cheeses, cold sausage rolls and quiches etc.

Iceland have a great range of bung in the oven finger foods, I would do that with nice different breads,, olives, cheese, cold leftovers and fruit with cake for later.

Are you sitting down at a table or standing around eating? If sit down then lasagna but if you're eating off plates standing up / sitting on a sofa rather than a table with a knife and fork then nibbles is definitely better

Sitting at table

Buffet is so much easier and quicker, if more expensive but you can always ask people to bring one thing as a contribution. We always have a buffet on boxing day. Most people are full up from their large Christmas dinner day before and just fancy picking at things. Sausage rolls, pork pies, cheese rolls, Yule log etc, sarnies and you can have any leftovers the next day. I personally can't stand lasagne and would come to be social but not eat. Plus when having a drink and a laugh you can pick throughout the whole time of being there and there's something for everyone.

The trouble with all the buffet bits mentioned like sausage rolls is they are very high in fat / rich which is the last thing I want after the Christmas meat feast