Quick and easy ideas needed - buffet for approx 40 people

[LunarSea]

It's ds1's birthday soon, and as the venue where we're having his party (a Den Building party run by one of the rangers at a nearby country park - how good is that for 6 year old boys?) has got space in the party room for more children than the 20 who can do the activity we've said that younger siblings can come along for the food, and we'll do an adult/older kids buffet too (there's an outdoor covered area) for any parents who are waiting around.

Well it looks like all his friends are coming, with their younger brothers/sisters (how come none of ds1's friends are only/youngest children?). And all the dads want to "help with" the den building, so they're all coming en famille and it now looks like I'll be catering for about 80 all in.

That's slightly more than I anticipated, so any suggestions of what I can do for the adult buffet which won't take too much time and effort (or cost!) to prepare? And/or which can be prepared the day before because his party starts at 11.30 so I won't have hours on the day to do it.

I'm thinking along the lines of pasta salad, couscous, chopped up baguette, big tub of coleslaw, salad, etc. What else?

Also if I do plain ham/cheese sandwiches for the kids party could I make them in advance and freeze them? If so how long do you think sandwiches (once put out onto platters) would take to defrost?

Maybe buy some cooked whole chickens from the supermarket. Boiled new potatoes, cheese platter. Huge fruit salad.

Sandwiches shouldn't take long to defrost, maybe and hr or 2. My Mum used to make up our scholl lunches on the wekend and freeze them and they were always thawed by lunchtime.

Good luck!!
HTH

That's meant to read school and weekend!
Ooops!!

sausage rolls

do a differant variety of sandwiches

cheese
ham
egg mayo

sausage rolls
salad bowl
tuna pasta
prawn platter
quiche
jelly
cake
bowls of crisps
chipolatas
savoury rice
houmus
celery sticks with dips
breadsticks

chicken drumsticks
chicken thighs

bowl of fresh fruit salad

Coronation potato salad - mix mayonnaise with good mango chutney (Geeta's brand from bigger Tescos and Sainsburys is the best.) Really moreish.

Easy Cold chicken pie (looks great cold)
Cold chicken breast or thawed quorn fillets
chopped and mixed with mayonnaise, grated cheese, chopped peppers. Arrange 2 packs chilled croissant dough (try a Tesco Express or Aldi) on a pizza tray, triangles overlapping to make a ring. Dollop the filling on the ring and fold over the points. Bake as per croissant instructions until brown.

Sausage plait (or armadillo, again looks great served cold)
Mix 1 pack sausage meat with 1 pack tastier stuffing meat, add chopped apple, diced cheddar, small chopped onion and half an egg, crushed garlic and parsley.
Dollop onto ready rolled puff pastry sheet, slit and weave into desired shape (mine are usually armadillos or rectangles). Brush with remaining egg and bake at 220C for 20mins then 180 for 20mins or until leaking sausage fat (pour this off before cooling).

if you want to really cheat, order quiche and pizza from the local bakers, that's what i do, whack in sausage rolls and do a few sandwiches .. but that's a lazy last minute buffet - just do salad to accompany - potato salad, or rice salad, green salad, cous cous, or coranation chicken all done the night before

well done for arranging such a successful event - your doomed now though you've raised the bar!

or buy lots of cheese, pate and baguettes. Let people help themselves (ie don't bother making sandwiches). Optionally provide bowls of cherry toms, coleslaw, chopped cucumber, grapes, chicken drumsticks, mini sausages, or any of the other things suggested. Keep it as simple as poss, I've missed out enjoying too many parties by going overboard on the food, then have been to "cheese and bread" events and really enjoyed myself and vowed to keep it simple myself next time.