Suggestions for easy (adult) party food please!!

[CosyTeaBags]

It is my DPs birthday this weekend, but he doesn't want a fuss. We have invited a couple of friends over for dinner, on the proviso that I will provide 'buffet style' easy food.

I am a lazy, crap cook at the best of times, and we want to spend the day out doing fun stuff with DP, not at home cooking.

So what can I serve that requires minimum preparation - I can stretch to heating stuff up, preparing a pasta salad type stuff. But I want it to be nice for my DP. I was thinking of some nice quiches, cous cous salad, pasta... any other suggestions?

Also - I'm veggie but our friends aren't - so what's nice in the meat world these days?!

Cheese straws are easy for nibbles - buy the puff pastry and add your own grated cheese.

If you're doing an actual meal, the easiest thing to do is a big casserole/stew with some green veg and crusty bread. You can prepare hours ahead of time, and leave it in the oven on low until you're ready to eat it.

Or for something lighter - a nice home made soup. Really easy, and can also be prepared hours ahead.

For pud - what about a big bowl of fruit salad?

A platter of antipasti type meats and olives? Some mini mozzarella balls and cherry toms? Some basic sushi rolls? Those are the things i make a bee ;ine for at buffets.

Thanks Middleaged

Hadn't thought of cheese straws - yes, that sort of thing is ideal. What else is good in the frozen food department?! (probably going to Tescos tonight if that helps)

As for anything homemade- I really won't be here to prepare a casserole or soup, we're away Friday evening, intend to spend the day out on Saturday then have a few hours in the afternoon to tidy up and prepare food. So it's real ready-made lazy cooking I'm afraid!

Pud is sorted - DP has requested Cheesecake, so that's easy (to buy, not make..god I'm a crap girlfriend!)

A platter of antipasti type meats that sounds good - should I just buy some nice cold meat stuff from the deli counter? I've been veggie forever so I have NO idea about that sort of stuff.

The rest of the suggestions sound good too! Thanks

Yeah some nice cuts from the deli, or you can buy the platters in the cold meats section - enjoy the party!

I think a big pot of chilli and loads of dips like sour cream and guacamole with wraps and tacos could work really well?

Otherwise antipasti meats, olives, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes, nice crusty bread and pate and cheeses would be nice? most of that is pull out the fridge and shove on the table.

Ooh lovely. And I could get some nice pate, and put some of those part-baked rolls in the oven.

Does this sound ok - Cheeses, cold meat, quiche, Cous cous salad, some cheese straw thingys, pate, olives, fresh bread, salad...

Anything else that would go nicely?

Some carrot and cucumber batons might be nice too, and a dip or 2?