Easy lunch for mums and toddlers

[Mung]

I have stupidly decided to make lunch for about 10 mums with their children next Wednesday. That same day happens to be my birthday and I didn't want to be sat at home alone with my two DCs driving me up the wall.

Anyway, I would like some ideas for easy stress free cooking for the Mums that takes into account;

1. We will all have at least one child to chase around and feed
2. There are not enough seats at the table for everyone to sit down and eat.
3. Its cold outside
4. I can't face cooking for hours
5. I'm veggie, but I think I am the only one (I don't mind cooking meat though)

DH suggested soup...but I am not sure that is very easy to eat. Someone else suggested chilli and jackets which, again meets most of the requirements, but could be a pain to eat if not sat down properly.

Any other suggestions?

why not just a variety of sandwices and quiches? cake and fruit for dessert.

I'm with Belgo

You could even heat the quiches up, if you were feeling posh.

home made cake, of course

Soup sounds like the best plan, cheap easy, can be prepared in advance, warm can be veggie, can pour into throw away cups (so no washing up) and you can cut up lots of french stick to dip in! Yummy!

Local softplay or pub

Oh and also can do in slow cooker so no need to stand over it and stir and can be left on low heat for late comers or seconds!

young children may find soup and french bread a bit difficult - at least my young children aren't so keen on it.

Children's party food! Lots of sandwiches, little nibbly things, beloved of toddlers and adults alike, and easyto eat.

Good God, don't cook, they won't expect it. Mini sub rolls from M&S with suitable fillings for little ones. The mini ones are divine and all the kids seem to love them. Bigger sub rolls for Mums, if money no object then buy M&S sandwich fillers, if on a budget then the usual suspects, cheese, ham etc. Fruit and a home made cake or cup cakes would be lovely, if not again, M&S do lovely ones. If you had lunch type boxes for little ones, that always encourages them to sit if they have to dig around in a little box for their food, I spread out a big blanket on the floor and the kids all sat like angels and that was for a party, so lots of children. We have a party shop near us that sells those party lunch boxes for 35p each, so always handy to keep a stash in the cupboard.

chicken pices roasted in oven with garlic and rosemary and olive oil. Can be picked up and eaten with fingers.
roasted veg - peppers and aubergines.
a feta and olive salad.
fresh baguettes.

All of them can be served cold or lukewarm.

Now I am so not the nervy type but to me a house full of Mums, young children and hot soup everywhere. Young ones would have to be really helped with it meaning Mums could't have theirs. Cups of hot soup everywhere, oh, coming out in a rash just thinking about it.

Def.cold stuff - no cooking. Get loads of the special party food hat tesco/iceland/sainsbury are doing for the festive season. Or just sandwiches, suasage rolls, sausages, carotsticks and dips. French bread. Cheese cubes, nothing fancy. Crisps,nibbles,doritos etc.

Small cakes and biscuits for after.
like a birthday party, really.

Please dont cook anything too difficult as all the other mums will have inferiority complexes and you will never get invited back to theirs

Do kids party food and maybe some soup for the adults if you want to serve something hot.

I was going to do sarnies and party food type things for the children..I just felt the need to have 'real' food for the adults (and me). Perhaps I'll do a lot of party food, so Mums can pick at it too and then the soup idea for those who fancy it.

I'll keep your tip in mind FGS

Ooops I thought the soup was just for the adults! really not with it today! You are all so right!

Would deffo do party type food for the little ones things like mini sausages, grapes, cheese and pineapple, crisps etc

Hot garlic bread for the adults, with tomato and basil soup to dip it in (4 cartons passata and some fresh basil - whiz with blender and leave basil wrapper visible)

Party food on a blanket for littlies.

Just realised that my laziness could seem rude...and you have all been so helpful By FGS above I meant Frostglassslipper...nothing else more insulting.

nah we all knew what you meant

why not just bung a couple of pizzas in the oven for the mums and party food for the little ones?

I heat up pizza and garlic dough balls with a nice salad when we have DS friends around. No fuss and easy to tidy up afterwards.

Must try colditz tomato and basil soup idea, although surely the garlic bread would be for everyone.

ummm pizza sounds like a good idea

posh pickynosh for the mums bung a few quiches if yiu feel the need for hot food or buy some pizza express pizzas and dough balls although that could be quite pricey

big pile of wraps

lots of stuff to put in wraps

sorted! (always works here anyway)- can include grated cheese, tuna, olives, tomatoes, salad, pepeprs, sliced ham, etc etc etc

If there are loads of people I tend to pick up loads of sausage rolls from the local Baker's Oven and stock up with fruit shoots

Soup that can be drunk out of mugs
Roast a whole chicken (or buy one ready roasted) and crave that up in to slices
Cheese slices
Bag of spinach
Nice bread in chunks
Load of grapes