Help with Italian buffet - is this enough/too much?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Both families coming for a gathering on Sunday and I want to do an Italian style buffet, mostly home-made. There will be 12 adults and 4 children and I am rubbish on quantities! Does this sound OK? I've got myself all confused!

2 big lasagnes (my mum will make these!)
Italian sausages with braised lentils
Baked stuffed aubergines
Home-made focaccia
Croquette potatoes with ham and parmesan
Fried crispy courgettes
Mozzarella salad
Rocket, pine nut and pomegranate salad
Herby borlotti beans with olive oil breadcrumbs
Plate of olives, artichokes etc.

TBH I'm aware the kids might just eat lasagne and bread and maybe a sausage, but that's fine. I don't know whether to include any fish dishes into the mix, or maybe another salad? Would any of these not work? I have a nice recipe for prawn and ciabatta kebabs with fennel salad but not sure prawns will work. Really wanted to do beef carpaccio but it would be way too expensive for that many people! I'd really appreciate any advice - I'm trying to do my online order as I type!

What ages are the kids? I would probably do them a couple of pizzas, I do think you have more than enough food though!

7, 5, 4 and 18 months. All pretty good eaters. Might get a couple of pizzas in just in case though!

Sounds amaaaazing!! Agree, a do 3 or so pizzas too, kids will love it. What have you got for desert? Nice Italian ice cream and tiramisu? Could do a nice big Caesar salad with Parmesan, crotons and anchovies! Mmm

Wot, no pasta?

Orzo and slow roasted tomatoes might be worth adding in?

Oh yeah pudding?

Lasagne is pasta!

Caesar salad sounds lovely - just found recipe for sliced beetroot with watercress and walnut pesto though which looks gorgeous - yes/no?

DoitTooJulia ... I went to a posh italien and had orzo and slow roasted tomatoes and they were to die for. I have spent all the time since googling to try and find a recipe well, not ALL the time, but you know what I mean!

Do you have a recipe?! If so I will be eternally grateful!

p.s. sorry to hijack thread IHeartKingThisle. Your menu sounds divine

Ooh how do you get your courgettes crispy please? Mine are soggy and tasteless.

Yes to the beetroot & watercress dish, also how about a fennel, radish and crisp leaf salad.

All sound delicious!

Oh crap pudding! Yes ice cream probably! It's a birthday so there will be cake anyway.

I normally just shallow fry sliced courgettes in pancake batter as my grandad did but I'm going to try a different recipe which is matchsticks - cover in milk, pat dry, roll in flour and deep fry. We shall see!

Orzo sounds lovely. Think I might have enough carbs but not sure now!

Thanks! Matchsticks sounds interesting I might give that a try as well.

Deep frying can only make vegetables more nutritious, right?

Absolutely! And probably kills off all those nasty calories

I know, I know! I guess it all looks a shade heavy to me.

Roussette, all I do is bung millions of halved cherry tomatoes, cut side up in a roasting dish, season with salt and black pepper and drizzle olive oil over. Cook on a really low heat for as long as it takes for them to be soft and shrivelled. (I usually have a tub full in the fridge, they are great to have in)

Add to cooked orzo (I stir through a sun dried tomato paste) and add torn basil leaves. I sometimes add chopped sun dried tomatoes too. You can add olives, tiny balls of mozzarella, anchovies, anything really to pep it up!

Does it sound like what you had?

Way way way too much

This thread is delicious :)
My children would have eaten everything on your menu, except the olives, and would be disappointed at being expected to go for the pizza.

Oh no is it really too much? I haven't cooked for this many before!

It sounds like a lot, but you could eat leftovers the next day (or invite me).
I certainly wouldn't add any more dishes.

I think it's plenty, shouldn't run out and might well have some leftovers.

Depends how fussy the children are, but some simple cucumber sticks or bread sticks might be good

DoItTooJulia that does sound different (I now realise what orzo is). I now realise what I had was slow roasted tomatoes in oloroso (which I think is Spanish sherry). I just got stupidly excited when I saw the word 'slow roasted tomatoes' and I started salivating!

Your recipe sounds yum and I am going to slow roast some tomatoes! Thanks