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!)

Those strawberries don’t give one portion of fruit per person so hardly a massive gluttonous amount. Bonkers

Yes, pizza would be a good option

and yes, one of the big punnets of strawberries will feed the kids. What are the adults having? No one is only eating 3 strawberries each for a pudding.

I would add, two rotisserie chickens, some nice bread, 2-3 good size pizzas

Do your children regularly eat 300g of strawberries each then? I bet they’re regular!

So what, 3 strawberries per person?

How can you possibly thing that's enough?

I think it's not enough but I also think if you've been poorly and your DH is complaining then maybe he should sort out the food. He could easily go shopping first thing tomorrow morning and make enough food for nine people before lunch (not a sarky comment, I could do that).

Oh oh oh, what about hot dogs in rolls for the kids? Easy and inexpensive and filling.

Definitely more sausage rolls. And also at least one more quiche or something similar. A little too much is infinitely better than people feeling like you’ve just been a bit tight.

@geminicancerean is the budget very tight? Or do you not eat a lot?

When hosting you want the table to look bountiful & abundant. As a guest i don't want to be mentally calculating if i have a second slice of quiche, will there be enough for granny

You can wrap up what's not eaten & freeze or eat the following day

I'd add a huge bowl of glazed cocktail sausages (always a winner once people eat meat), a load of very good bread rolls & a dish of real butter. A tray of delicious sandwiches - egg & cress, chicken salad, cheese & relish - cut into triangles & arranged on a platter, a tray of buffalo wings (very easy to cook in the oven)

More strawberries, you want a mountain of them, cream in whipped mounds & definitely more than 1 meringue nest per person

I'd probably add a tray of brownies too

Soft drinks, beer, wine & loads of ice

are the new potatoes in 500g bags? If so that’s just a tbsp each

Perhaps ask your DH what he would eat and multiply by 9. But definitely you need more sausage rolls!

It’s what? 10 big strawberries? It’s not that much.

Even allowing for the potato salad, you need more food. I agree with the chicken suggestion. Or maybe a large lasagne (a pre-cooked bung it in the oven job - I appreciate you've not been feeling well. Although you said it's going to be hot, so maybe you don't want the oven on. Also, I don't think you've many options for the kids. Most kids I know would turn their noses up at quiche and salmon and salads. They'd prefer pizza or cocktail sausages or something like that. You said there are three kids coming, but how old are they? Big difference in the appetite of a three year old vs. a 16 year old.

Can you throw a few pizzas into the mix?

More sausage rolls for sure. A lot more. How about some lamb chops?

Twice as many quiches.

Some rollitos.

What you have is not really dinner - more like finger food.

Ok, going to send husband to Tesco for additional strawberries, garlic flatbreads and more spuds. Also more mayo because while posting this I remember I’ve run out - and I usually make my own mayo but I honestly cannot be faffed while I’m on antibiotics and opiates.

So if the kids won't eat the quiche, what is their main option? A sausage roll? Just no, OP. You've got lots of salad going on there, which is t usually a kid favourite either, so expecting them to have a sausage roll and crisps isn't on. Definitely more carbs. The crunchy bread, cheese and crackers idea is good. I'd add some cooked chicken pieces (enough for everyone), more sausage rolls or pork pies or similar.

6 sausage rolls between 12 people????? and agree about the strawberries I bought one of those packs on Friday and two kids have had 4 or 5 portions out of it and its gone.

When im catering i order based on the assumption that every guest will have 1 full portion of everything and that there will be 3 more people attending than actualy are.

I pack up the leftovers for guests to take home.

I'd rather have too much than too little.

I’d put that on for a light lunch, not dinner. I’d add a big bowl of Jersey Royals slathered in plenty of butter, a couple of sourdough loaves, a cold meats platter, cheese board and big bowl of cocktail sausages.

That’s enough for 4 tops

They'd eat more if they were out on a plate and the adults were standing about chatting. Honestly sometimes I'm amazed they don't shit themselves.

Those strawberries are probably enough for 4 or 5 people. Not 9.

op, if you don’t wish to or can’t do this, why not text them all and tell them dinner is off and you’re only doing a few snarky bits?

yoire not explaining your reticence here, did you not invite them? A couple of flat breads isn’t going to work.

if you need cheap buy some chicken thighs and bread, for about 15 quid more you could have it sorted.

or text them and tell them dinner is off. And it’s just snacks as that’s what this is.

You need more than that still - I'd at least double the sausage rolls, maybe add some pork pies or scotch eggs as well.

I eat that size punnet of strawberries by myself at this time of year, although admittedly I wouldn’t do that at someone else’s house.

It’s not enough food and it’s also a bit tricky if anyone is trying to eat a certain way eg lower fat, lower carb, as they will want to eat all the salmon and salad. One bag of salad for that many people is definitely not enough. I’d probably do a load of roasted veg and also provide plenty of bread, or maybe even just lots of pizza.