AIBU to think this dinner spread will be enough for nine?

[geminicancerean]

Nine people for dinner tomorrow, 6 adults, 3 kids. It’s going to be really hot. 5 of the guests will have travelled some of the day.

I’ve actually been unwell this week so have relied on M&S to do the actual work. DH isn’t sure my planned spread is going to feed everybody so I’d like some opinions

I have bought:
2 quiches (one bacon and cheese, one cheese and onion)
2 packets hot flaked salmon
Ingredients for big Greek style salad (cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta etc)
Big bag of green salad
2 big pots of pasta, pesto and pine nut salad
6 sausage rolls
Big bag of M&S wotsits
Big bag of M&S bacon crisps
Huge double punnet of strawberries
Meringue nests
Cream
oh and cake

The sausage rolls and crisps are for whoever wants them but I obvs had the kids in mind picking those - I know all three kids like these things and eat them.

So that’s it. I think it’s enough. DH suspicious and thinks we might need ‘extras’.

Over to you Mumsnet (don’t worry, I’m braced for criticism and I can take it!)

Hi OP...I truly hope you are feeling better this morning.
Also can I be your friend!!? You are ace..

I don't have anything to add about the food situation because I read the whole thread (insomnia can do one) and think you have it covered.

I'm loving how calm you've stayed even with some of the more bonkers criticisms/suggestions/down right rudeness thrown at you. Are you normally so cool or is it the meds?

If you were my friend you would make me your coconut and mango cake for my birthday wouldn't you? Obviously I would cover the ingredients cost being your friend.

I would like to nominate this thread and the OP for classics.

It was a joke OP because everyone was getting the maths wrong

I agree your cake is big enough

Many people are missing the point that it's going to be 30°C or higher today. Who wants to eat huge quantities of food when it's that hot? Bring on the slice of quiche and salad, perfect food for this weather.

This thread is a testament to how enraged some mumsnetters get when the OP dares to have an opinion.

I do think the original menu was a little light but not the extent some people here seem to think. I I would have gone with adding a meat instead of just salmon, the rotisserie chicken is perfect. Then crusty bread and cheese/meats which is an easy add. But, depending on the size of the sausage rolls, at least one (if large) two (if small) each.

Hope it all goes well OP and you are feeling better.

My appetite is the same regardless of the weather tbh. I still exercise in the morning, walk the dog, run around after the kids so I burn as many calories in the heat as I do when it’s cold, so eat the same amount too.

Do you know how to read the OP’s posts alone?

Exactly. The arrogance is embarrassing!

There's no way you need to allow over 300g of strawberries person person even if the only dessert option was strawberries and cream.

I think I understand now why some people insist they couldn't possibly feed a family of 4 on less than £300 a week!

Why are you going for so much food that people simply don't like or won't eat (and not just the strawberries)?

I eat more when it's hot! No idea why, but I'm always starving.

Completely agree that a 3 layer 9 inch cake will easily serve 9!

I do a 2 layer 9 inch Victoria sponge and the circumference is 28 inches. So I reckon most people want 2-3 inches of cake circumference so I would expect it to serve probably about 12. If it was an entire extra layer taller I would expect them to want maybe 1.5 inches of cake, so then I would expect it to serve about 18. So there's definitely plenty of cake!

I find those pick 'n' mix type teas hard to cater for because a) the more people chat the less people eat but then b) if people sit round for ages they tend to help themselves to seconds etc and then c) you don't want a full portion of each thing per person because you've got lots of things to choose from but d) sods law is that then one thing is super popular and everyone wanted twice as much of it as you made/bought. I usually just massively over cater and then eat leftovers for several meals 😅

Cake sounds amazing. Unfortunately I’m pretty rubbish at baking. I’m don’t suppose you know an easier version of the recipe do you? Always impressed and a bit jealous of cake makers.

This is entering cancel the cheque territory

buy more meat

The most frustrating thing about it is posts like this insisting OP is digging her heels in when she said really early on she was taking on suggestions and listed multiple extra things she was buying.

It depends on how much you think they'll eat. We all eat really well so this wouldn't be enough. We like to have too much if anything.

I'd get some freshly cooked chickens today, cold meats, cheese, more salad and bits, bread, potatoes, ice cream, pasta.

Meats and cheeses,always pleases.

Im so familiar with this scenario. Im hopeless at judging what’s needed for larger groups like this. I usually over buy and then rely on the freezer to avoid waste afterwards.
I never lay on anything like this without nice bread and cheese. People will always fill up on that. Put some pickles out as well.

If you had read the full thread, or at least the OP’s posts, you would have seen that the OP has mentioned several times she is ill, on antibiotics and pain meds and is running a temperature. She baked the cake a while ago, before she got ill, but yesterday was not feeling well enough to do everything she had originally planned to do before she became ill. In fact, she is feeling so bad that she is thinking of postponing the collation till tomorrow now. Also, she has said numerous times that she is sending her DH to do a shopping run to supplement the food she already has thanks to many helpful suggestions to the (few) people who’ve replied having actually read and understood her posts.

@geminicancerean - I hope you are feeling a lot better today and that the birthday celebrations go ahead with nobody starving because your cake was too small. I’m another who would love to see a photo of the cake, if you can manage it!

I know, if she ends up throwing away 3 stale, sweaty sausage rolls because no one ate them she’d be judged for that too, as MNers don’t have food waste!

RTFT.

Joyful thank you 😂@name

Don’t understand the continued pile on OP was getting. Hope you feel better today @geminicancerean enjoy your tea/buffet/picnic/spread. Hope everyone looks after you today

Oh and can we see a pic of the cake. Sounds lovely ☺️

I would look to get around 50 packs of strawberries OP, and then maybe two other dessert options so people have some choice

Nobody in my family cares particularly for cheese. I don’t mind it but not in 33c heat. I am going to buy extra food though, so not sure why you posted that I was ignoring everyone.

Yep, I know. Thanks for your support though ❤️