Cooked Breakfast - to deal with too many people

[Ratherbeaspoonthanafork]

We have been roped into hosting breakfast for a large family get together. I am not a natural hostess. I can do a buffet or a one pot meal. But its DH’s family and too many people for out house and kitchen. Our kitchen area is open plan (but isn’t massive/especially compared to their houses and top of the range really well equipped kitchens), some of his family are likely to gather in the kitchen area (and a couple of them are annoying and likely to really get in the way). I am also menopausal and get very hot, my glasses steam up and I get flustered with timings of cooking bacon and sausage etc.

Some of the group will want a large full English (I am not messing about with that), others like bits and bats, two kids one fussy but loves chocolate, two on diet/health kick will want fruit and yogurt although not sure which type of yogurt?!? Anything else easy that I can serve an prepare in advance?

Wondered if anyone can recommend anything similar (but less bulky) than a hostess trolley where I can get up early and do bacon and sausage (without being under pressure) and before they arrive and keep it warm? Was thinking maybe just do bacon and sausage in rolls, fruit, yogurt, croissants and jams, fruit juice, tea and coffee does that sound ok?

If your husband is ill and all this is falling onto you I think he should be the one to tell them that he’s not up to hosting and suggest they eat breakfast at a cafe or restaurant. This whole situation seems unsolvable, or does his family have airtight legal representation that have issued you with an unbreakable summons to host breakfast for these incredibly demanding and fussy people 😂

pancakes fruit and yogurt, bacon, maple syrup

controversial I know.

Either buy pre done or get a mix from Costco keep warm in the oven.

costco also do decent waffles by the box load for a tenner. Toast and done.

Sausages and bacon done in the oven and then piled on a serving plate. Sliced rolls in another pile and people can make their own sandwiches

Your menu sounds fab!

We cook large batches of sausage and bacon in the oven and then just put nice rolls and condiments out for people to assemble their own rolls.

A bit of greek yoghurt with accompaniments and some pastries and you are good to go.

Breakfast is far easier than other meals I think for large numbers.

• Sausage patties and cheese slices on brioche burger buns, with ketchup/brown sauce.
• Fresh croissants and pain au chocolat - no butter or jam required.
• Assorted single serve yoghurts in different flavours. No bowls and toppings, just eat from the pots.
• Tea, coffee and fruit juice.

That’s as simple as I can make it. Just put the sausage patties in the oven for 15 mins ish once people arrive. Don’t faff around turning them. Use foil trays if you don’t have big enough baking sheets.

How about a pancake breakfast? You can get pre made if you prefer - then heat them just before serving with a mix of granola, Greek yoghurt, fruits, bacon, sausage, and sauces - allowing for chocolate saucing from some, syrup and bacon from others, or nothing but fruit yoghurt and granola for those who want to compete on their health!

Can you send out a group message beforehand to let people know what to expect?

Lookinh forward to seeing you all for breakfast this xxx we will do our best in our modest kitchen! . Bacon baps, pastries and fruits and yoghurt will be served. Can’t wait to spend time together.

What I used to do was sausage and bacon, in the oven, in keep warm in the oven. Put sausages in first as they take about 25 minutes, bacon takes about 10.

I'd also be a bit less accommodating. And borrow an extra toaster.

Cold stuff on the table.

Put an irritating person on toast duty.

Have a clear exclusion zone in the kitchen - I do that with my in laws who otherwise stand in front of the fridge.

Pots of tea and coffee and someone in charge of them.

Sausages and bacon- easy peasy.

Throw it at the blokes and send them out to the bbq.

everyone else above seems to have made lovely suggestions.

And if anyone complains about anything, “This is breakfast today “ is all you need to say and move on. And repeat.

What you listed is EXACTLY what I would suggest!

Don't overcomplicate.
It's not nice for guests to have cold food, stressed hosts, overfull tables.

So good quality sausages and bacon, done in the oven for ease, then kept warm in there. Probably from the butchers.

Great quality greek yoghurt (full fat). Ready chopped fruit.

Baked at home pastries - m&S do a great bag of frozen mini ones (croissants, pain au Chocolat and pain au raisin) a couple of those are perfect.

You can get away with cooking sausages in the oven earlier and leaving them to stay warm. Just on your biggest trays, 45 mins (I like well done sausages!), and you can get away without turning them too. No need to touch them once your guests have arrived. You could even get away with doing them the day before and just heating them in the morning if that works for you?

My other top tip is to use one or two trays - pop all your sauces, cutlery (in a pot), napkins, all the loose bits on bobs on it. It just makes things easier, as well as getting out most stuff the day before.

Set it up like a hotel breakfast buffet with a table/sideboard in another room/far end of dining room or outside if weather is good. With the continental breakfast items for people to help themselves & ask someone to monitor this. So they are responsible for top ups & hot water for when supplies run low.

Ask day before how many people wanting cooked breakfasts so you can prep by preslicing mushrooms & toms. Ask your dp/male friend/relations to actually cook the breakfast to save you from overheating.

You could get bacon and cheese turnovers/cheese and tomato turnovers from Aldi as a hot option, much easier than fiddling about with bacon rolls.

And as for people wanting this and wanting that...
my attitude would be very much "take it or leave it and be grateful" given that this has been foisted upon me and not by choice.

I know! I’d leave him to it and do a bit of washing up to show interest 😆

This, however, is the best suggestion ! As long as everyone is paying for themselves anyway.

on that note, OP, have you also got to fund this bash you've been unwillingly forced into hosting ?

I'd never be doing this again. They sound far too much hard work. Let them stay in a hotel next time

I also don't understand, given that the op has clearly explained that she wants a really simple menu that is easy to cook in a single oven and that she gets stressed, why posters are suggesting very elaborate menus with multiple hot options.

id suggest:
Aldi bacon and cheese turnovers with some of their fake McDonalds hash browns (if you can be bothered with the hash browns) and maybe baked beans & tinned plum tomatoes to fill up the overeaters if you feel inclined to warm anything up on the hob
some pink grapefruits for your under eating SILs
Greek yoghurt, frozen black cherries, honey
Granola
a loaf of chocolate chip brioche and a loaf of bread for toasting
Nutella
breakfast juice or orange juice

you can get all of the above in one Aldi shopping trip and it all requires little or no preparation

These are the chappies
https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-crestwood-bacon-cheese-wraps-2x97g/4088600315089

I made something like this last time I had to cook for a crowd.

Prepared day before and just had to whack in the oven on the morning.

thefoodcharlatan.com/eggs-benedict-casserole-overnight/

Thanks all some fabs tips and suggestions here. I will make it as easy as possible for myself on the day.

DH is poorly so he can’t help. Only one is staying with us as we don’t have room or numerous bathrooms and en-suites to accommodate them all. But breakfast with us before they set off home will be expected as this has become the norm. I will prep as much as I can beforehand and might rope nice BIL into helping me as he is very practical.

Someone on another thread mentioned this: https://www.beigelbake.co.uk/products/plain-beigel
A load of these, some cream cheese, coffee & OJ might be impressive & low effort, if you're within the M25.

I think your plan sounds good OP. I often precook sausages and freeze sausage baps, I'm not suggesting you go that far but you could definitely cook the sausages the day before if that would make it less stressful for you. You asked about less bulky hostess trolley, you can get plug in hot plates but assuming you don't have time to faff getting one nor want to spend more than you have to, I'd say instead to reheat the sausages in a cast iron casserole dish if you have one and leave them in that to keep warm.

It may or may not make life easier if you plan in advance for the annoying lurkers and give them jobs. By planning in advance that you will ask annoying MIL to slice the baps for example you can make sure there is a knife and chopping board/plate ready and get her out from under your feet a little. Or get nice BIL on side, say they're all doing your head in and can he be in charge of telling them to get out of the bloody kitchen area and give you some space.

Rolls or nice sliced bread instead of toast. Sausages and bacon as others have said.

Buy in pastries and fancy orange juice

Put jam and butter on the table with fruit

Don't bother with yoghurt stuff. People have good intentions then eat bacon and sausages or pastries

I buy pigs in blankets (2 birds 1 stone) Sainsbury's or Iceland do large frozen trays and then serve with rolls then put some fruit, pastries and juice on the table and they can all help themselves.