What would you feed a crowd?

[Magnalux]

Hi folks,
So I’m hosting a big family get together at the start of December, there will be approximately 20 people ranging from babies up to 70yr olds. I’m not doing anything too overly festive as I will have the same people back at the end of December for Christmas Lunch so I’ll save the Christmas recipes till then. Ideally something I could make ahead the day before then make sides on the day. I made lasagne last time, so that’s out. Thanks for any inspiration!

please can I hijack to ask the same but with vegetarians and lactose intolant folk to cater for too!

Two big quiches, one veggies one not
Baked spuds
Homemade coleslaw
Salads - pasta, chick pea, whatever
Cheese board
Bread

Dessert:

Brownies
Big apple crumble, tub of ice cream
Maybe a carrot cake

Chicken and broccoli bake.

Roast chicken shredded into a cheese sauce with broccoli and cauliflower added. Top with cheese. Can add ham as well.

Crispy bread, sliced in half and scored potatoes, baked.

Chicken and chorizo jambalaya with crusty bread and salad

Thing is, you don't want too much stuff in the oven at once

Do you have a slow cooker @op?

Yes oven timings are a consideration, I do have two ovens though, a slow cooker and a dual air fryer.

A big slow roast joint of meat (pulled pork or brisket) pickles, coleslaw, salads and good bread.
or serve hot roast pork rolls with stuffing, crackling and apple sauce.

Huge boeuf bourguignon with bowls of veg and/or green salad as well as gratin potatoes.
Fruit pavlova for pudding or a light fruit mousse with crispy tuiles or biscuits.

Fish pie or cottage pie (or similar so can prepare in advance - maybe even with the veggies in them so it’s all one dish)

Pumpkin pie with squirty cream (so no more heating up required etc )

Ooooo thinking about trying to simplify even more what about getting costco rotisserie chickens and shredding the meat up, quick mix of peri peri/fajita mix spices in and using as the base for tacos/fajitas? With all the accompaniments.

Curry, chilli or pie and mash

Pies are a great idea. You could maybe make, a steak pie, a cottage pie and a chicken pie. My go to chicken pie is the Hairy Bikers’ chicken and tarragon pie with a filo pastry topping. Easy, quick and a real crowd pleaser. If you’re worried about oven space you could always make two pies and a dish in the slow cooker too? You can make the mash in advance and reheat in the microwave.
I also recommend Nigella’s peas with pancetta (made with mint and vermouth).

You might do better with a separate thread, @Sillybillypoopoomummy, but off the top of my head I'd go for a selection of curries with tomato-based or coconut milk sauces and rice, plus dhal, popadums, mango chutney etc etc.

Shove a joint of pork shoulder in the slow cooker and do pulled pork either with rolls, apple sauce/stuffing or wedges, beans etc...

Loaves and fishes, you might need help though.

Slow roasted pork shoulder - a few large joints are cheap from the butcher. Then smoodge it up into pulled pork, crusty warm rolls and salads and you've basically got a hog roast.

I’d do a pie if folk are sitting down. I find shepherd’s pie scales up well

I always make salt and pepper roast potatoes.

I'm a cheat. I use aunt Bessie's and sprinkle the salt and pepper Chinese seasoning over and add a few fried onions and peppers and chilli's.

They always go down well.

Jamie Oliver’s beef stew served with hunks of granary bread and if you wanted to some roasted fine green beans. Delicious and simple.

Chicken thighs with chorizo tray bake with orzo. Also yummy. Served with baguette and a green salad.

Sarah Lee chocolate gateau.

I love this. About 10 years ago I went to Tobago on holiday and we saw one. Obv bought it and just had mouthful everytime we went in the fridge. It was gone in about two days.

My friend did an event last year for 30 on bonfire night, she did two huge soups. A really lovely chunky minestrone & a loaded baked potato one. She kept them warm in slowcookers and served in disposable cups for people to help themselves. She did big trays of slider style rolls sliced in half with cheese and different toppings which she wrapped in foil and baked until the cheese was lovely and melted. I remember one had salami on and one was mozzarella, tomato and pesto. There was also bowls of crisps, salad, dips etc and some antipasti skewers. I'm probably not selling it well but it's still raved about now and was just perfect and we're all secretly hoping she does the same this year.

@vernatheraven the true and absolute joy of being able to a) snag a piece and (b) manage to squeeze in to the kitchen past all the adults and blitz it in the microwave for 20 seconds so the chocolate frosting all melted 8n to hot fudgy sauce.

I really miss Sara Lee chocolate gateaux!

Last time I did a family party we had:
Quiche
Gammon
Roast chicken
Sausage rolls/scotch eggs/ cocktail sausages
Sausages (we all like sausage 😋)
Garlic bread
Sliced baguette
Salad (toms, cucumber, leaves)
Fruit platter
Olives, hummus, dips, crisps
New potatoes
Carrot & pineapple salad
For more people I'd add another quiche, chicken nuggets, and a few pizzas.

Cheese and onion pie!

Thank fuck someone said it. Was beginning to think MN was a lost cause for a bit there.