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

Cold meats as well I forgot to say!

I’m not veggie or vegan but I’ve made a vegan lasagna that was actually very nice. The ‘guts’ of it was masses of chopped mushrooms, cooked down so most of the water came out, so it did take a while. A layer of spinach, plus the usual sauce made with oat milk and veggie ‘cheese’ from M&S.

This made me laugh. Absolutely not lol.
My house is clean

I always host on Boxing day

Did you read all my posts?

I've had a particularly stressful year and my friends were trying to be helpful

I love a mushroom risotto! 🤣

I agree with you op. Party food for 12 would be hard to judge and endless trays going into the oven. You would need a lot, and nice ones are expensive. I also think people eat loads as they aren’t very filling so you can just go on and on. They are a hassle compared to a one pot meal you can prep in advance and know pretty much how many portions it’ll do.

im not vegetarian but I love roasted veg lasagne like the one you describe. I used to make it a lot for veggie friends in the 00s but it feels a bit dated now. I’d happily eat it!

also you’re the host and you can choose what to serve.

Pulled porked / option of pulled aubergine
Then lots of bits to go with and pick at.

Easier than lasagne. Just takes a while to cook. But less prep. Can be done in advance and frozen. That makes it easier to do bits on side. Is particularly easy if you have a slow cooker / pressure cooker.

Then your nibbly bits are basically anything you could throw on it - think olives, jalapenos, cheese board, salad, crisps so no need to actually cook anything else.

Its a half way house between a full meal and 'nibbly' bits. Keeps everyone happy.

The alternative at Christmas is to throw in a couple of extra joints of meat into the oven on Christmas Day (make your life easier by doing in a disposable tray) and then just do cold with bread and cheese, cold meat selection etc on Boxing Day.

I wouldn't do a boxing day lasagne. On boxing day, I'd want picky bits...

Down with Nibbles I say.

Straight out of the Marguarite Patten cookbook.

DH will graze happily on them as it's his idea of absolute hog heaven. I think it's from his childhood, plates and plates of greasy gloopy breadcrumb coated small eats. With special small napkins. Fried Brie bites FFS and prawns wrapped in God knows what that have been in the freezer for God knows how long and dark brown onion bahjis that taste of nothing but flour and onions.

A whole day's calories and salt in a few bites and still left feeling hungry as it doesn't feel like real food.
has already bought big bags of Bombay Mix, and heavily salted peanuts etc as "They go down well."

I think I'd prefer something lighter than lasagne.

That said when I was a kid it was usually cold ham/turkey, fried mashed pots & brussels & pickle!

Nibbly bits are fine but draft your guests into bringing them and laying them all out. We did vegetarian nibbly bits for dh’s family over the summer (12 in total, 4 vegetarian) and it cost me £200! Admittedly all store bought, but quiches, cheeses, olives, packets of crisps, etc add up quickly especially if you can’t just buy the bog standard cheap (non-veg) stuff.

I would prefer that on Boxing Day too, but if you’re hosting, it’s not the cheapest option.

Lasagne or nibbles says the OP. Make soup/pulled pork/chilli/make nothing because you must be a dirty slattern says MN.

If the friends really want to do nibbles are they going to co ordinate between themselves who brings what & also tell you what you need to do (if anything)?

You’re hosting therefore your choice!! If your guests don’t appreciate whatever you do then they are extremely ungrateful

I hosted 50 people in the Summer. Including 5 veggies and 1 dairy free.
It cost £350. That included deserts, soft drinks and 8 bottles of wine too!

I'm kinda wow at £200 for 12 people.

I don't think its a either 'big meal' or 'nibbles' dilema for the OP though.

You could do a sort of combination.

You could have a vegetarian lasagne and then for afters have a "dessert" with cheeses and fruit and some Christmas cake or pannetone for people who want it and maybe some nice chocolates. There is the advantage that guests can bring some of these things..

You could put it all on a table and people could help themselves. So if people just want fruit after a decent main course, they could just have that; if anyone wants food they can just go and get some cheese or some Christmas cake.

We had loads of party food at our wedding and a "dessert" afterward that people could snack on during the evening. It looked very lovely actually, with great slabs of good cheese and beautiful piles of fruit. It is a very nice communal meal option that doesn't have the host running around with little things on plates. It is an old fashioned way of doing things.

They are coming to see you, OP, the food is secondary. Do the lasagne. If they aren't keen they can politely push it around on their plates and eat something else when they get home. It's one meal. Make life easier on yourself.

This.

You will need a lot more food if you do nibbles.

Lol. Yes ....cracked me up laughing when someone suggested it might be because my house is a hovel lol

Only on mumsnet eh!

I agree with PPs that if people were offering to me that they would bring nibbles, then I'd be expecting them to be arriving with a plated up contribution ready to eat.

I wouldn't be expecting them to turn up with a box of frozen nuggets!

Are you sure you're interpreting their offers correctly?!

You'll probably know for your own crowd. My family definitely aren't cold meat esters. We're less cheeseboard and more sausage rolls and scotch eggs.

But I have many friends who are die hard cheeseboarders who would be out put out by no cold meat lol.

Reading all these posts…my heart is hammering with insane and unwarranted raaaaaaage!!!!

“Nibbly bits” 🤮
“Picky bits” 🤢
“Lasagna” (it’s lasagne).

I realise I’m jist a wee bit stressed though, so will skuttle away now and boil my head! 🙈

you need to fix yourself a snowball and a have nibble on a twiglet. that'll calm you right down.

This is peak MN. "Is your house dirty?" "Do pulled pork".

Honestly, OP - you're hosting, it's up to you. Either way "thanks for the offer, but I'm happy to cook" and leave it at that or say "thanks, actually it's been a stressful year so I'd be delighted to hand over catering to you all and I will host and do the washing up". Whichever you prefer but do not let them guilt you into preparing, heating or otherwise serving forty different options. That's stressful and not what you have offered.

@MuckyPlucky , it's scuttle btw.

Lasagna and let them bring the nibbly bits! DS in last year of University hosted his first adult party with charcuterie boards and wine for 20 (!) people and commented how expensive it was and I just responded yes it is! It’s a good lesson to learn I guess but I can’t imagine how much it cost him!