Catering for 10 a few days before Christmas

[ToChangeforthebetter]

We have friends visiting for the day a few days before Christmas. They will be travelling for 2 hours and will be staying for lunch and dinner.

I am going to be catering for 10. I don’t want to do a Christmas dinner as I’ll be doing that a few days later.

I was thinking a buffet for lunch and then a chili type meal for dinner.

Any suggestions on what I can include that’s not too expensive? I am going to be on a small budget for it.

I'd do the big meal at lunch time and then hopefully people will want less later on - that should help with the budget. Chilli with rice will be cheap and very filling. Try and plan lunch for no earlier than 1pm as well.

If I'm feeding a crowd on a budget, chilli is always a winner, you can always serve with tortilla chips, soured cream and guacamole if you would like. Frozen pizzas, home made garlic bread and salad always a hit too and easy to do.

Stewing steak. Big casserole, bread and butter, pickled red cabbage.

Hot food at lunch is a good shout, only reason I’d cos I’d thought the buffet for lunch is I can get it all out before they come.

I am thinking also a shepherd’s pie as I can make that and the chili the day before and then just cook the rice and veg fresh on the day.

Chilli all the way. Mince and a bunch of beans. Packs of chilli spices from the supermarket (Schwartz?) Bucket of rice and some garlic bread. Crisps and dips from supermarket. Loads of booze.

For lunch I’d do a Christmassy soup like cauliflower cheese or spiced parsnip or mushroom and chestnut. Serve with crusty rolls or ciabatta, followed by mince pies.

For dinner you could do sausage and bacon casserole with jacket potatoes. I like this recipe from the Hairy Bikers www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/great_sausage_casserole_73010 which freezes really well.

This Baileys panettone pudding can be prepped in advance www.tamingtwins.com/panettone-bread-and-butter-pudding/

I'd do a lasagne for lunch and a buffet for the evening

If you are doing chilli and want to keep the cost down, go light on the meat and heavy on the beans. I use chickpeas as i think they taste best with chilli spices. Then grated cheese, sour cream, some tabasco so those that like it spicy can amp up the heat, some rice and tortilla chips with salsa. Guacamole is pricy and goes brown really quickly, so I would steer clear if you want everything to sit for a while. You can do a salad for something green and plates of brownies for dessert.

for the other meal I would do crusty rolls and sandwich fillings with maybe a hot soup for variety

I fucking hate chilli <completely misses the point>

I hope all your guests like chilli.

Hot pork sandwiches.

I agree with main meal at lunch, if they are travelling after dinner they won't want to eat a heavy meal.

For dinner I'd do soup and sandwiches. Make a soup in the slow cooker so it can just sit there and people can help themselves and then do a pile of sandwiches with different filings some crisps and maybe some fruit and cheese.

Have a look at Iceland's party food, they usually have3 for 2 deals.

I hate chilli too.

I’d do a couple of large lasagnes, garlic bread and salad.

Or I’d try to grab some yellow sticker joints from the supermarket and freeze them and then cook them on the day to have in soft bread rolls with extras- e.g Christmas ham and coleslaw, pork and stuffing, beef and horseradish etc.

For desert I’d do a pear and chocolate crumble and a bread and butter pudding served with cream or custard.

I don’t think you’ll need to do two actual meals if you do a large hot lunch and dessert. Later on I’d possibly put the leftovers out with salad and maybe some quiche and oven chips.

Hot meal for the lunch, I would do chilli/beef casserole with mashed potatoes/chicken pie with bought puff pastry/whatever is easiest for you to prepare.

Then buffet and nibbles for the evening.

Delia's macaroni and beef pie is a variation on lasagne, but I find it much easier to serve up than a lasagne. (You can use other pasta if you don't like macaroni but I think it adds to the flavour). Serve with a mixed salad.

I'd agree with serving the main meal at lunch. You could do a cheese board, pate, pickles, grapes etc with crackers and sliced baguette for supper. Maybe add some pork pies, sticky cocktail sausages, prawn cocktail etc

I try to avoid a buffet made purely from 'beige' party foods but a couple of bits that are different to whatever else you're serving can be nice

I'd do jacket potatoes.

A pan of chilli, but also grated cheese, baked beans, coleslaw for those who don't like chill.

Then everyone can pick what they like.