Please inspire me for a small celebration lunch impressive but easy!

[nevertoooldforindie]

Hi we are having a small christening for dd with about 10-15adults. Going to do tea/coffee and cake mid morning for afterwards but need something for family that will lurk around waiting to be fed at lunchtime. Was thinking something warm rather than sandwiches but something that pref isn't a sit down dinner

Thinking that if you do something warm it's (probably?) you doing the work. Why not go for something like a quiche with a selection of salads that you can put together the day before then all you need to do is take them out of the fridge to come up to room temperature and serve with lots of crusty bread. Easy make ahead salads like beetroot with walnuts, creamy potato, pickled fennel, roasted Med veg, white rice salad made pretty with sweet corn, celery and spring onion or brown rice with toasted seeds and nuts. Upside is you can have what's left for dinner with a couple of grilled sausages.

Buy a whole salmon from the fishmonger or supermarket. Ask them to gut it and chop off head, tail, fins etc.

Stuff it with fresh dill and finely sliced fennel, and lemon slices, wrap in foil and bake the day before. When it's cool, peel off the skin.

Then use food processor to finely slice limes, lemons and cucumbers and lay them over the salmon, like scales. Looks absolutely stunning and takes about 15 mins total to prepare.

Great salad to accompany it is finely sliced fennel and oranges (peeled) layered with fresh mint and drizzled with a honey and orange dressing.

Great centre piece for a table full of salads and home made breads and cheeses.

You could make Eton mess or fruit meringue for dessert, or a really light summery trifle with lots of fresh berries and white chocolate shavings.

Wow thanks love both the suggestions was thinking of something to go with some nice bread

If cooking salmon is too much hassle and budget allows, get a side of smoked salmon.

Or cook a big ham - looks impressive and what's left can feed you for days. Serve with some of the lovely salad suggestions.

Soup? Pre-make, then heat through and serve in cups/mugs (to fit with the not sitting down). It's a meal, but it's also not so heavy, not formal, you're not saying sit down at the table for hours...

Sausages? Just oven a load of sausages, and serve with bread. People can make their own sausage sandwiches. Dressings on the side.

Massive lasagne? Again, pre-make, and just oven. Bread alongside.