What's on your buffet menu?

[Shitfuckoh]

Looking for ideas.
Ex's parents are coming to visit the kids in December. Expected to put on a buffet type party (mainly for the kids but hey ho!)
Ex ILs like things like olives so doubt they'd appreciate a few sandwiches, crisps & sausage rolls

6 adults and 4 kids (1 is a teen so technically 7 adults!)

What's usually on your menu?

Christmas i would do a cheese board evening probably.

If its a traditional buffet then i would get a load of frozen stuff, the Indian selection, cheese rolls, spring rolls etc and add houmous and veg sticks and crisps.

You could go down the olives and anti pasti route but kids probably wont like it and it will be more expensive than frozen party food.

A big spinach and feta pie is really easy. Pack of puff pastry, two packets of feta, two large bags of spinach. Cook spinach and drain as well as possible. Dice feta finely, mix with spinach, season with black pepper (I don't use salt as cheese is very salty). Roll pastry out thinly - it's easier to do half the pack at a time, i.e. make two pies. Spread the cheese and spinach mixture over one half of the pastry, leaving an edge of half an inch. Brush water round the edge and seal well. Slash a few holes in the top and brush with beaten egg. Bake at 200 degrees/180 fan oven, for 25 - 30 minutes, until pastry is brown and crisp. Cut into small squares to serve. Delicious warm but also fine cold.

Finger buffet or knife and fork?

You HAVE to have cheese & pineapple on sticks

Samosas and bhajis, raita, mango chutney, spiced onions.

Naice ham, salami.

Guacamole, salsa, blue corn chips, crudités.

Sticky chicken wings, honey and mustard chipolatas.

Fruit platter.

Cheeseboard.

Little chocolate tarts.

Mini quiche
Homemade sausage rolls with chutney baked into it
Mini toad in the hole
Plate of nachos
Olives
Cheese board
Dips and crudités
Chicken satay skewers

I have no idea if it's finger buffet or not.. I think last time we went with m&s party food but as it's my first December as a single parent I'm trying to penny watch a little more.

Some fantastic ideas here - thanks! I can do a combination of food the children will eat & stuff for the fussy ones

Cheese & pineapple on sticks? that may just ensure my house isn't used to host again.. I love it!

You need a puffpastry Christmas tree. Sweet or savoury.
I’d go for nice cheese board and crackers, pickles, grapes, celery
Blinis with cream cheese and smoked salmon
Cocktail sausages with honey and mustard
Marinated chicken breast pieces on sticks
Cherry Tomatoes with mini mozerella and a basil leaf on a stick.
Figs with blue cheese wrapped in palma ham
Will you have any veggies
Maybe some French sticks

Sorry my suggestions might have been a bit more expensive. But the tree is a must!

Just claim it is a retro buffet - cheese and pineapple on sticks, sausages on sticks, party rings, vol au vents etc. We did one for a big birthday and everyone loved it.

Could do a big pan of curry and/or chilli with rice and potato wedges, with extras. Might be cheaper than buying lots of individual items like canapés, cheeses etc. I find I spend more doing this and always over cater

I'd do a giant brie wheel with French stick, alongside festive sausage rolls (add five spice, ginger and garlic) and glazed cocktail sausages. Nigellas festive recipe book is pretty good with some nice ideas. I'd definitely do olives and some smoked salmon as well as cheese and crackers. Lots of veg sticks and hummus too.

A couple Christmas's ago I got heaps of party food in Aldi and was great and much cheaper than M&S but same sort of thing, would check out that sort of stuff before you go home making everything to save your sanity.

Puff pastry is always a winner here though I made bbq shredded pork with mozzarella parcels that went down very well before on a Christmas buffet.

I've just put on s small buffet for my birthday
Hot dogs
Crisps
Hummus
Assorted sandwiches
Cocktail sausages
Scotch eggs
Pork pies
Popcorn chicken
Scones jam clotted cream
Asda fresh cream cakes
Iced mince pies
Simple cheap and cheerful and no waste