Halloween Party catering...HELPPP!!

[rushrushrush]

Oh dear, in a madly social mood I invited a whole LOAD of mums/dads/kids to my house for a Halloween party.....There will be around 15 kids aged from 5 years up to 12 years. There will be about 16 adults too. I am now having a MASSIVE panic attack about catering for it. I invited them all for "tea for kids" at 4pm and drinks/something warming for the adults who will come trick or treating. Usually I've done a whole batch of pumpkin soup but I almost can't face it this year as I hate chopping veg and making it! Have no idea what to feed kids either and am now getting slowly desperate because we are away up until 2 days before the 31st.

HELPPP... what is SIMPLE, and QUICK to do for all of them?
Please? Thanks

I help organise the Hallowe'en party in the village for around 60-80 children every year. Sausages, chicken nuggets and chips are universally approved and easy to pre prepare and keep warm in a low oven.

Hot dogs are good - using proper sausages or cocktail ones, buy hot dog rolls to stuff them in, then offer round with ketchup in a napkin so minimal washing up. Do enough for the adults too.

You could get some spooky shaped crisps I expect the supermarkets have some. I wouldn't bother with veg tbh unless you do soup as its just too much hassle and won't get eaten at something like this.

Fruit kebabs or just a few bowls of prepped fruit eg chopped up banana, apple and grapes with a squirt or two of lemon juice a la HFW might be a good option though to line the stomachs with nutrition before the sugar onslaught of trick or treat.

The adults may like some mulled cider or something similar. I would. [hgrin]

I'm with taffeta. Did a whole heap of sausages for my daughters 1st a few years back. Worked really well. Good quality sausages, but all different types, lots of hotdog rolls, pile of fried onions and a range of ketchup and mustards. A few bowls of nibbly bits and jobs a goodun. Can even do veggie sausages for those that are that way inclined. Everyone's happy.

Nigella does a whole selection of recipes for hallowe'en, and also why not just buy bags of chopped veg for the soup? Then you don't have to do all the peeling etc.

Sausages also good, do them in a sticky sauce, they will get wolfed down so make lots - I do them with honey and wholegrain mustard - just cook sausages in the morning and then simmer the sausages in lots of honey and mustard in the aft till glazed. Serve with toothpicks as they are ridiculously messy.

Chicken wings? cheap and can also be done in a nice sauce, look up tamasin day lewis' barbecue sauce, it's amazing.

A lot of baked potatoes and some fillings?

Good luck!