Easy nibbles for 50th birthday

[mrsfeatherbottom]

So, I'm having about 13-14 girlfriends over to my house for my 50th birthday. I said on the invite for cake and Prosecco so they know not to expect dinner. We hosted a few friends for NYE last year and I spent so much of the evening heating up party food and putting onto plates etc, that I want to avoid that happening again. So, I need ideas for nibbles that require very little work. I have mobility issues and get sore legs from standing so don't want to spend the night beside the oven again.

I'm going to buy a supermarket cake (Sainsbury's do a decent chocolate one that feeds 20) and get my teenagers to decorate it with leftover disco ball decorations from DD's birthday.

I'll get some nice bottles of fizz but I don't drink and there will be a few people driving I think so need some nice non-alcoholic drinks too. I thought I might do a jug of non-alcoholic mojitos (Robinson's lime and mint cordial with sparkling water and loads of ice, fresh mint and limes). What else could I do?

I also only have 8 (really fancy from our wedding list) crystal champagne flutes - should I buy some cheaper ones in Ikea or would it be weird to have a mix?

Buy loads of dips...then tortilla chips, crisps, crudités and tiny crackers and bread sticks to dip in.

Olives

Sun dried tomatoes

Cheeses

Charcuterie

You need a glass for everyone.
You can buy two boxes qt ikea if you like hosting and save nice ones for more intimate moments.

For nibbles I'd go with tons of smoked salmon and already cooked shrimp tails with few store bought sauces and crackers. Also, some ready cut fruit and a bag of mixed leaves salad to dump all that seafood on.

If you are short on money get pistacios, cashews and some other nuts and cut up a block of cheap cheese to make a platter with some bread sticks and crackers thrown around. You can do it for 10-15£.

Enjoy your big day, girls are there for you not food.

Sounds like a lovely evening you have planned. How about ritz cracker, cream cheese, smoked salmon, dill. Hot cocktail sausages done in honey mustard, one of those round cheeses in terracotta pot with mini crostinis (can get both in Aldi), olives, puff pastry cut into little squares top with cranberry sauce or chutney and a bit of Brie and pear. A bit of prep but you could could it the day before and place anything that needs heated on tray ready to just turn the oven on. Set your plates / serving bowls out in advance. I wouldn't worry about mixed glasses

This always get compliments and are easy to prepare in advance simply-delicious-food.com/starters-canapes-melon-prosciutto-skewers/

Thanks so much -that gives me loads of ideas. I especially like the melon/prosciutto skewer idea.

As for the champagne glasses, I've loathe to buy more stuff that would then need stored. My friends are not the types to recoil in horror if served Prosecco in a wine glass so I might just get all the crystal out!

If it’s soon and you have said on the invite its easy especially as so many people will be dieting. I would maybe do nuts. Have a tub of Heroes or quality street, a couple of different crisps. Perhaps a cheese board. Grapes and some carrots and dips.

“…as so many people will be dieting.”

Really? That’s quite the assumption!

You can hire glasses quite cheaply if you want matching or a charity shop for mix and match coupes, martini glasses, hi-balls, etc.
I would do a charcuterie board, a cheese board, high-end dips, and some good quality biscuits, bread, and crisps.
Cake for dessert.