hosting family buffet tomorrow - any good ideas?!?!

[DimpledThighs]

spent all my time planning christmas dinner etc and didn't give much thought to having12 people over tomorrow for family gathering! Wht shall I feed them? I assumed leftovers would suffice but what to do with them?

help !

What leftovers have you got?

sprouts
stuffing
turkey
cranberry sauce
bread sauce

turkey curry buffet a la bridget jones (or make a large cottage pie, peas and a scrummy pudding)

anything here?

Message withdrawn

turkey fajitas?

thank you very much - I am unable to think creavitely (or spell it!) at the mo so this is good.

www- think will do st stephens pie from that link as looks easy but would be nice.

foxtrot - bridget jones has ruined any hope of me making a curry - my sistert would take the pee big time!

yorkiegirl - coronation turkey sounds good too - will see how much turkey i have left.

cheers!

I did one yesterday and served up:

• beef casserole - done for ages in slow cooker; used up roast beef from Christmas Eve and any remaining veg

• mushroom, sundried tomato and parmesan rissotto

• melon dishes (scooped out) filled with melon, red graprefruit, prawns and lobster with a honey, grapefruit juice and ginger dressing

• served with lots of crusty bread

• cheese board, mince pies and cream for dessert

Did it like this as got to do most fof prep in advance and had little to do whilst everyone was here. All went down really well.

Lots of rice, cold turkey, salads.Buy some warm fresh bread.
I've got to fly North tomorrow, hire a car and on my way from the air port find a random supermarket to buy roast lunch for 14 including vegetarians and then cook it by 12.30pm. Advice on that would help. Visions of empty supermarkets in which I can only find cans of beans coming to mind.....

French bread cut into slices with a layer of tomato sauce (any bolognaise sauce will do) and a sprinkling of cheese (pref mozzarella but doesnt have to be), toasted under the grill makes for a nice nibble when they arrive.

Make some rice and then add a can of pineapple/peas/sweetcorn/raisins (whatever you have in your cupboard).

Pasta with a simple white sauce and parmesan cheese.

Throw it all on the table and let them help themselves!

Oh and dont forget paper plates make it so much easier! heheheehe...

Have a fun day.

Xenia, why roast lunch? I would by lots of canned beans and other veg and make a large beany sort of hotpot, served with plenty of bread. Perhaps cold meat for non-veggies if you are feeling generous and they might otherwise complain. As you are travelling to get there, can you get any of the guests to help get the food ready? Seems unreasonable you should have to do it all.

Have friends round later today and gone for something less formal entirely and all that can be prepared in advance, just about. Have just finished most of prep.

Beef burgers (beef, mustard, garlic, onion, Henderson's relish, breadcrumbs, coriander, cheese)
Fresh bread buns (just finished baking)
Home made wedges, and salad.
Made myself some veggie burgers (breadcrumbs, cheese, leeks, mushrooms, parsley and mustard).

turkey and ham pie, with a bought puff pastry crust. Salads, fresh warm bread or bought garlic bread. Love the idea of the beany hotpot thing maybe topped with lots of fresh corriander. Maybe some oven chip/wedge type things (shock, horror!) and whats left of your Christmas cheese! Not forgetting pickled onions!

Actually, a big pot of soup would also be nice if you have stock etc to use up

who wants to go to hulababy for lunch!!!!

I have decided on:

-sausage rolls (use up sausagemeat - I so overdid it there)
-st stephens pie, but with puff pastry crust or just the cold ham and turkey
-stuffing rolls (like sausage rolls but with stuffing)
-bread
-cheese
-salad stuff
-coleslaw with apple
-bubble and squeak patties

-mince pies
-christmas cake
-chocolate chestnut pavola

does that sound right or am I over carbing it?

sounds nice but it is a tad pastry heavy, but then hell it's xmas.

Chuck in some good apples and a stack of mandarins and you'll be right

yes you are right - will cut the pastry st stephens pie and do cold meat.

We have piles of fruit left from our giant fruit and nut delivery - we were supposed to eat it instead of bad stuff !

My g/p have a buffet every day on boxing day so all the family can get together once a year.

It was great, we had almost identical to your list but we had platters of ham, roast beef, turkey, and mini sausages on sticks, and those little stay sticks and also chicken drumsticks. Yum Yum Yum

I think I had lost a little weight with stress of christmas but have put twice as much on again. I look a bit pregnant tbh

every year

Elastic... I think I volunteered but as I'm the only person flying there and the rest are in cars I've no idea why no one else has offered to bring any food but I'm not going to say anything about it. I just thought something roasted would be a nicer family meal. I suppose as long as there's some beef or something in the shop all I have to do is buy it and then stick it in the oven as soon as I arrive and get some others to peel some vegatables. I might even buy ready peeled and cut ones too. It's going to be chaos anyway as we've incontinence, dementia, eldery, babies, recalcitrant teenagers who don't want to be there and probably not enough seats physically to sit down but that seemed easier to manage than all of us going out to eat.

xenia

I went to sainsburys today and they had loads of reduced stuff.

You might even be able to get a nice ham or something that won't need roasting and go for say baked potatoes and salad or prepared veg as you said.

Good luck.

DT, it all sounds lovely, but I always think a couple of hot things is nice (I know you have your bubble and squeak!). Agree that all the main supermarkets will have their 'party foods' on offer so buy something you can bung in the oven but serve hot to go along with all those lovely cold meats and salads. And I know garlic/cheese bread is naff but EVERYONE loves it!!

Have a lovely time