What would you cook for 14 people on NYE?

[Tenam]

5 children, 2 teens, 7 adults.
2 vegetarians.
(2 very fussy and critical but I’ve kind of stopped factoring that in because I can’t win regardless)

I'm assuming with all those children it's low key so....
Could you do a Mexican theme?

Fajhitas - chicken and prawn (fillet steak if you're pushing the boat out)
Chilli Nachos (make a veggie chilli version with more beans, no meat)
Potato wedges with cheese on top
Homemade Guacamole, Salsa and sour cream dips

Lasagne - two meat, one vegetarian, salad and garlic bread.

Maybe some sort of vegetable soup for a starter with crusty bread.

Maybe not two lots of bread!, so no garlic bread if already having it with starter.

Sit down at table or mooch about/buffet style?

Agree with lasagne/chilli as suggested by previous poster as you can just whack them in the oven. Can also do large quantities of rice in the oven too. Or curries, sides and naan bread?

Buffet could also work - ham, cheese board, quiche/veggie tart and some salads.

If just light food I'd go tapas style l/lots of small dishes to pick at, if needing something heartier I'd go for two type of curry, rice, poppadoms and lots of chutneys/pickles.

Either way I'd plan a good cheese board and desserts (build your own ice cream sundae?) for around 10.30 when everyone is flagging

Two big pots of curry, one lamb, one chick pea snd spinach.

Or tagine, one lamb, one spicy veg and chicken pea

Oo, I know a lovely lasagne from rose Elliot, cook mushrooms with garlic. Mix cottage cheese with spinac and nutmeg. Layer cook. Yum!
A huge dish of roast potatoes is great too.

In the past for NYE for loads of people like that, I’ve done a beef in ale stew with dumplings & tons of veg sides. You could make a non-beef stew for the vegetarians - I do mine in the slow cooker & it’s very hearty.

One year we were guests and that host made a lamb tagline with Covid course & crisp pomegranate salad thing, with a veg tagline alternative.

Toying with both myself! My problem is small kids this year… hmm

Tagine autocorrected to tagline 🤣

In my vegetarian Christmas magazine there was a Christmas tray bake. Basically all the veggies in one big roasting pan in the oven.

You could do that and some meat?

Very Pan of meat chili.
Pan of sweet potatoe and black bean chili (cookie and Kate's receipe is great)
Rice, flat breads.
People help themselves and you can enjoy the gathering without being a slave to the kitchen and timings.

curry?

For a family gathering for bonfire night, I did this pulled chicken, pulled pork and bbq jackfruit (using this recipe). Served with brioche buns, sweet potato wedges, coleslaw and corn on the cob. Went down very well with everyone!

For hot food suggestions I think you need to factor in if there is space for everyone to sit at the table. I don't think I would want to eat a lasagne etc with the plate on my knee.

I think I would just do a big buffet with plenty of meat and veggie options.

Thanks for the ideas.
I can sit everyone but I’m veering towards not just because I can’t really be bothered to do a formal sit down thing 😳

I usually do a more fancy meal on nye but it will be easier not to. I’ve really lost interest in cooking lately, I used to love doing big elaborate meals for this kind of thing.

I'm doing a buffet for tomorrow as I have family joining us, there will be 9 of us in total for present swapping ❤️

Done a Tesco party food order that's arriving the evening. Just things like sausage rolls, cheeseboard and posh crackers, a gammon joint and a bacon wrapped Turkey crown that I will cook and slice tomorrow to be served cold, part baked baguettes that will still be nice and warm, 2 quiches to make, spring rolls, onion bhajis, 2 types of pate, will make potato wedges and onion rings too.

Family are bringing drinks and desserts.