Open house Sunday 12th December- small but nice buffet

[Poppins17]

We usually invite DH family over on a Sunday in December and I do a buffet and spend the evening chatting and catching up.

This year we want to have an open house maybe from 3pm to 8pm for both sides of our family and friends.

It’s too long to try to keep a buffet hot for, and I don’t want to spend all my time cooking, so so we just say join us for a mince pie and mulled wine or is there anything else we can put out for people to pick on if they wish?

Ideas please

Sure people would be fine with that. Other ideas could be a nice cold buffet, all prepar d ahead, salads, cheeseboard, nice ham, breads, pickles etc which people could pick at as and when they choose? If you have and could borrow some slow cookers you could have things like pulled pork, a chilli, curry, tagine if you wanted something hot??

Cheeseboard with a selection of biscuits and breads, pates, pickles, relishes, chutneys and quince jam.

Are you wanting people to contribute?

Hot things do go down very well, though, especially at that time of year.
I appreciate you don't want to be lashed to the stove all day but how about some good quality little sausage rolls, made ahead and frozen uncooked, so they just need sticking in the oven for 25 minutes or so.
I'm thinking sausagemeat mixed with herbs and chopped chestnuts, or finely chopped cooked leek, or diced bramley apple. Or whatever you fancy.
Made with all butter puff pastry and served warm with chutney.

No @Brollypackedforscottishholiday

Maybe we could have mince pies, sausage rolls, cheeseboard, quality street / mixed chocolates in a big glass dish and one or two other picky things and that’s it.. will have a browse of Pinterest I think

Savoury and a sweet table?

Soup in a slow cooker leave it on low to stay hot thruout

Yea I think that sounds good op I'd add some nice crisps too. enjoy!!

Last time I did a Christmas buffet, I did small crusty rolls filled with lettuce and prawn Marie rose and ones with turkey and cranberry.
Sausage rolls
Mince pies
Was lovely and well received.

When I do this I do pulled prom in the slow cooker.

Bread, stuffing, apple sauce.

Cheeses, sausage rolls.

Then mince pies but also some cake type dessert too.

I find people turn up at different times dependent on what they want to do food wise.

So at 3pm you get those just wanting coffee and cake and those who come at 5/6pm have come for a buffet type dinner!

There's some great ideas here for chocolate alternatives, I was going to suggest iced lemon soufflé in chocolate case and the link is on here :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/4089812-an-easy-make-in-advance-chocolate-show-stopper

Thanks all!

You can do a chilli and keep in in the slow cooker - I go to a similar type of event each year and this is what the host does, served with crusty bread and tortilla chips.
Also mince pies, boxes of celebrations/heroes etc.

Try and keep it simple so you enjoy the day too.

Following as some lovely ideas.
Can anyone recommend a recipe for pulled pork in slow cooker without bbq sauce please?

M&S have already got their turkey flavoured crisps on the shelves. Your plan sounds good and I would get some bits like those as the extras.

Little pigs-in-blankets (on sticks)

The large bags of mini pizzas, samosas and spring rolls from the world food freezer section or your local international food store. If you're having alcohol, you'll need something more substantial than roses chocs to soak it up.

I would do nice breads, cheese board, cold meats (perhaps a Christmassy ham joint), mince pies, Christmas cupcakes for the children etc. These things can be easily replenished without too much effort on your part so you won’t have to worry about it staying fresh or early visitors eating it all!

I'd do slow cooker soup along with bread, cheese and a cold gammon joint. Mince pies and a christmas cake. Mulled wine or mulled cider on low on the hob (as much for the smell as the taste!).

Honestly I would JUST have mince pies, chocolate and biscuits, keep the kettle going and let them know when you invite them.