Looking for inspiration for Christmas Day buffet lunch rather than cooked meal, suggestions appreciated!

[Hopton]

My in-laws live abroad and are visiting us Christmas Eve, then continuing their journey to other family Christmas Day. I'm cooking traditional Christmas roast Christmas Eve evening for them, and on Boxing Day myself, Dh and kids plus my parents are going to my sister's for another Christmas Dinner!

My parents are coming to us Christmas Day and said they're very happy with buffet lunch, what with my sister cooking Boxing Day and them going out with friends Christmas Eve for a meal!

This is what I'm thinking Christmas lunchtime, is it a "special" enough buffet for Christmas Day? -

STARTERS - parma ham cones wrapped around soft cheese,
heated cheese straws and balls
prawns in filo pastry
mini prawn cocktails
mixed nuts/crisps

MAINS - Sliced turkey and ham
chutney/pickle
salad bits
crusty bread
savoury biscuits for cheese
cheese board with grapes
mini sausages in bacon
mini toad in the holes
mini jackets filled with bacon/cheese

DESSERTS - Christmas pudding, mince pies, fruit salad!

Got some of this already, need to finish shopping tomorrow so any other suggestions would be helpful, thank you

Sounds great. I would rather have that than the traditional meal but family do not agree. We are having traditional meal early afternoon and I will do something similar to you later in the evening for people to pick at. That will be my favourite bit of the food.

Your buffet menu looks very similar to mine.

This year my elderly mother and inlaws have both been saying that they can't manage a full roast dinner so we are having a buffet/carvery too. The children are delighted, DH isn't bothered and I feel a bit disappointed by it all.

It has also cost more as nice little nibbles are more expensive that potatoes, carrots and sprouts.

Thank you, I suppose what prompted me to post was one of my neighbours commenting that they couldn't imagine that sort of meal for Xmas lunch and how would it seem like Christmas! I replied, with crackers, turkey, Xmas pud and mince pies which we're having!

She didn't look convinced but I must say I'm looking forward to it!

very similar to my boxing day buffet but Ive had to add abit more as Ive got veggies coming too,

Ive added

Pototoe Salad
Coleslaw
Falafel
Chicken Drumsticks
Indian savoury bites

Oh Im sure there is more..far too much food

It all sounds lovely although I did watch a Jamie programme during the week and he did little lettuce leaves, shrimp, prawns, smoked salmon, grilled avacado adn a bloody mary sauce, all lobbed on a big platter and eaten with your hands.

My mouth is watering just typing it all out

Christmas lunch for us is always a buffet heavy on the prawns, smoked salmon wrapped around cream cheese, cheese board and dips. We have dinner in the evening. Oh and pringles...if I forgot the pringles there would be so much trouble!

That sounds amazing!!!!! How about just adding a big dish of green beans (you know, the fine beans)? Or even some stir fried sprouts with bacon and chestnuts. Then it would be my idea of food heaven!

Thanks all, some good ideas! The sprouts, bacon and chestnut idea sounds just the thing, and potato salad will really bulk out the main meal. Love the prawn platter idea but would prob be just me and mum eating it as the others aren't seafood fans. Maybe a small one though, . I feel another shop coming on!

Sounds like you have plenty already, but if you have the time or inclination this christmas pie looks good. We're making it today for our Christmas Eve buffet.