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Original poster

Confirmation buffet/fussy in laws

27 replies

mawi · 12/01/2015 16:33

I am looking for ideas for my DDs confirmation buffet. There will be approx 20 adults and 8 dc. I have to have everything prepared the day before (or frozen in advance) as we have to be in church for approx 10:15 and won't be out until approx 1:00 and as we live only 5 minutes from church everyone will be coming straight back to our house.

The problem is my PILs. They don't eat anything forrin, spicy, tasty or colourful basically. Meat, potatoes and 2 veg is it. They don't eat pasta, rice, cous cous, noodles, MIL does not eat red meat.

Aswell as fussy PILs we have 1 guest with an egg allergy, 3 diabetics and 1 vegetarian.

We are on a very tight budget which is why we are having a buffet at home so want to feed everyone for €100. I am in Ireland so don't have asda, iceland, m&s, sainsburys, morrisons etc. We have Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes and Tesco.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

CaroleService · 12/01/2015 16:35

Baked potatoes with a variety of fillings?

MehsMum · 12/01/2015 16:35

Sausage rolls? Ham? Salad? Potato Salad? That should feed the PILS and you can have more fun with the rest of the food.

Slowcommotion · 12/01/2015 16:43

Could you cook a huge proper gammon ham like you have at Christmas? Really tasty with new pots, salads, and/or cheeses and chutneys.

Initial outlay a bit expensive (but not as expensive as many other cuts of meat)

We had 3kg one for New Year and it served 16 people in one sitting so you wouldn't need it much bigger. DD and visiting dc loved it too.

You need a huge pan (borrow someone's jam pan??)

I do it the Delia way which involves bringing up to boil in pan of water and chucking water out (to remove salts)

Then simmer gently in two and a half or so pints of good quality cider for an hour or so

Then slice off netting and then skin leaving fat behind. Score fat and place clove in each diamond. Then rub English mustard all over fat. Then cover fat and mustard with generous quantities of muscovado sugar to create glaze.

Place in oven dish for another hour or so, adding half a pint of cider in bottom of pan to keep it moist.

Consult Delia for exact cooking times

It's a really lovely flavour; even better after one or two days.

Original poster

mawi · 12/01/2015 16:56

Can I precook baked potatoes?

Sorry when I says MIL does not eat red meat, I meant she only eats chicken and turkey. She also does not eat sausages, mayonnaise or salad. FIL not as fussy.

OP posts:

Original poster

mawi · 12/01/2015 17:00

Sorry, thank you for the suggestions. I am stressing out a bit about what to do. I do not have the time, inclination or space to cook a sit down meal for 28 people but the fuss MIL is going to kick up if they feel they have not being fed properly is not even funny.

OP posts:

mausmaus · 12/01/2015 17:02

just do what you (and dc) like and what's easy and offer a plate of (very) plain sandwiches...

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/01/2015 17:04

I would tell MIL that you are struggling to cater on your budget, and ask her to prepare a couple of dishes that are to her taste to bring with her - you could ask someone in your family to do the same so that she doesn't feel singled out, I'm sure if you ask in the right way she will be pleased to help.

For similar family events I have cooked things like

Large piece of gammon
Whole salmon
Beef casserole
Large bowl of couscous with roasted vegetables stirred through
New potatoes
Chicken casserole
Cocktail sausages in maple syrup and soy sauce
Homemade coleslaw

Not everything has to be to everyone's taste, and I always make sure there is a selection of bread, crackers and cheese in case of any total fusspots. Anyone who is hungry is welcome to man the toaster

BrieAndChilli · 12/01/2015 17:10

I would roast a couple of chickens and a large ham.
Do a quiches, coleslaw, mini jackets, potatoe salad, bread rolls
Salad, sausage rolls, and some nice cheese and some pickles.

youbethemummylion · 12/01/2015 17:15

could you do a bring a picnic style affair where everyone brings their own food and you supply the booze so everyone gets what they will eat.

Slowcommotion · 12/01/2015 17:22

Sorry - missed the bit about your mil not liking red meat

I would roast chickens beforehand then and serve with salad and crusty rolls etc. Nowt better! Cous-cous always popular with dc too.

Do make sure you have enough fridge space though and don't make the same mistake as us! I catered for 18 at home for my dd's communion and prepared chicken the night before. Weather was boiling hot. Trouble was, having to borrow extra china and chairs and set up long tables and decorations etc took a lot longer than planned and I started cooking the chickens a lot later than planned. Which meant I took my eye off the ball and dh put them in the fridge too close together and while they were still warm. Fridge light started blinking as interior had warmed up and obviously was hotter than -4. Then it took ages to get cold again (I checked it at 4 am and warning light was still blinking). So decided that it wasn't worth the risk, partic as small dc and elderly people coming, so had to send out dh to buy food from deli in the end (and waste most of food that had been pre-prepared).

Moral of the story: start cooking food very early in the morning of day before, so it has time to cool down properly thoughout the day before refrigerating.

Good luck! Hope you all have a lovely day and that it is relatively stress-free for you!

SaucyMare · 12/01/2015 17:26

or you could just talk to your parent in laws and ask for ideas, in an "oh dear i am so stessed need help" way, just like you did us.

LineRunner · 12/01/2015 17:41

A large cold chicken and a cold salmon as centrepieces.

Cold new potatoes.

Salad, pasta salads, coleslaw and sausage rolls for everyone else.

A selection of breads, butter, crackers and cheeses. Chutney or pickle maybe. Beetroot.

Booze and ice cream.

LineRunner · 12/01/2015 17:42

Or would she eat a cold chicken pie?

Greenrememberedhills · 12/01/2015 17:48

How about a frozen whole turkey breast from Aldi? About £10. Thaw it, cook and refreeze for the day.

Greenrememberedhills · 12/01/2015 17:49

Ps there is a great deal of white meat on it, practically no bone. So much less messy that a chicken.

changeyourmind · 12/01/2015 18:00

I'd make either a roast chicken with potatoes,carrots etc. Or make rosemary lemon chicken with chicken legs/thighs - makes it easier to plate up. A basic salad, to which everyone could add various toppings, pickles,olives etc.

For the guests that are diabetic, allergic to egg and vegetarian, maybe make a lentil spinach stew/soup, tastes even better the second day. Really filling, and a dash of cumin and coriander makes it taste great.

Or a pasta dish This is good. I wouldn't add quite as much oil/butter they recommend here, but it is quick and easy.

I really like this ricedish.
You could serve it with stir-fry veg or steamed veg etc.
I'd bulk out the buffet with hummus, olives, crackers, cheese,crisps,Sandwiches etc.

Aside from the meat most of this will be very cheap. And you can get all of this from Lidl - promise, there's one up my road!
Hope you have a great day OP, and that it is stressfree. Again from what the other posters have said, maybe ask everyone to bring a dish or dessert?

Original poster

mawi · 12/01/2015 18:07

She doesn't eat casserole, stew, pie, anything tasty at all ever. She also would never ever bring her own food, she won't even bring her cup to the sink when she is visiting.
I am going to do some cold meats, salads, bread, sausages, sausage rolls etc as suggested above by all you lovely people and am sure she can eat something out of it. Do not want to be getting stressed so just not going to panic about it. No matter what I do won't be good enough so not going to bother, Sorry again for stressing.

OP posts:

OnlyLovers · 12/01/2015 18:12

Don't apologise for stressing, but honestly they are beyond ridiculous and it's not your problem.

If there are cold meats and bread etc then they won't starve –but do make lots of tasty things that YOU want to make and that YOU and less silly guests will enjoy. And you're well within your rights to meet any complaints with a hard stare and a stony silence.

Courage!

Germgirl · 12/01/2015 18:25

My mil has the same food quibbles as yours, basically she won't eat anything with flavour, texture or a hint of interest. I've given up trying to cater to her. I do buffets of meats, salads, coleslaw, sausages, couscous, cheese, sausage rolls, quiche, bread etc etc. she nibbles on a bit of French stick & a couple of lettuce leaves. I've given up trying to get her to try anything else. You just can't cater for these people.

MehsMum · 12/01/2015 18:38

Bloody hell, OP, what does your MIL eat? Anyone that fussy would starve in my house

You could roast a chicken or two - then there is some cold for MIL - and make coronation chicken out of the rest.

Really, don't worry about stressing: I'd be stamping and screaming with a MIL like that!

changeyourmind · 12/01/2015 19:18

God that is frustrating, that is shocking behaviour from your Pil. It's rude to be so nitpicky about food, when you're a guest in someone's home ! I understand why you're stressed.

Well, what you've got planned - cold meat selection sounds great and something I'm sure everyone will like. Make sure to cook foods you like OP, the other guests and you might like a wide variety of options in a buffet! :)
Enjoy the day, OP

JeanneDeMontbaston · 12/01/2015 19:27

I think when people are extremely fussy, and also won't bring their own food, you are justified in putting limits on how much you try to make everything suitable for them. So long as there is one thing she can eat, if she makes a fuss I'd probably go with 'oh, goodness, I forgot you didn't eat that, oh well'. After all, she isn't going to starve because of one rather skimpy meal.

beanandspud · 12/01/2015 19:29