Something to take to family buffet please

[AliasGrape]

Over Christmas we will be having a get together with my side of the family for one of the days. We’ve agreed to all bring a dish or two.

The hosts are making a curry and sides to go with it that we will be having probably later in the evening. The rest of us have said we’ll bring stuff to cover either lunch when we first arrive/ nibbles throughout the day or to bulk out the curry and also dessert.

Already volunteered and covered -

• Guacamole, sour cream dip and chips plus veg sticks
• Cheese and biscuits
• Mince pies
• Mini chocolate pot desserts

What shall I take?

I normally take sweet stuff to these sorts of things - I make a rocky road that’s often requested or other baking, but I feel like the sweeter things have already been covered

Other considerations:

1. We will be travelling 2 hours to get there, so whatever it is needs to travel well and ideally be made or mostly made the day before
2. I will have been hosting a lot over Christmas itself (different side of family) and by the time of this event I’m unlikely to have much energy/ enthusiasm left for anything particularly challenging
3. Full kitchen facilities when we get there for anything that needs chilling or reheating etc
4. Other family members are very big foodies and amazing cooks all of them, I’m an ok cook in that I do the basics fairly well but nothing to knock your socks off - there’s no point me going for glory here - I’m just after something that represents a decent contribution and is likely to be appreciated by most
5. Mostly adults - my DD and one other child will be there, but both pretty good eaters so no need to cater separately for them

So - that’s all a very long winded way of asking for suggestions or simple recipes if anyone has any please?

Mango chutney, naan breads and samosas

My first thought is this all sounds so horrendous I would opt out and spent the day at home eating twiglets.

I would try and cover some lunch bits and do a gammon, bread and potato salad

• Take a box of frozen 'Indian selection' sides and heat in the oven at their house. Serve with a bowl of yoghurt you've sprinkled coriander over.
• Stop at an Indian restaurant en-route and pick up some fresh, naan bread- peshwari, garlic etc you've ordered beforehand.
• These quiche can be made a day ahead, and basically any left overs can be made into them. Bacon, tomato, onion, semi dried tomatoes, prosciutto, olives, cheese from a cheese platter, salami. Also brie and cranberry goes well in them. www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/

Thank you - I think the naan etc will be covered, but I will ask about samosas that’s a good idea. There’s an international shop near me that sells really good frozen ones, I could cook before we go then lie and say I made them.

(Not really about the lying!)

How about drinks? You could bring some good coffee and hot chocolate for anyone who doesn’t want anything alcoholic and some nice alcoholic drinks for after dinner?

Another idea is to take a dip- these can all be made a day ahead.

• Mackerel pate- Smoked, pepper mackerel, remove the skin and blitz in a blender with lemon juice and soft cheese. Some horseradish is optional. Serve with crackers or crusty bread
• I did this one Christmas, but did individual versions and didn't add the layers in the middle, nor the caviar https://www.greedygourmet.com/smoked-salmon-terrine/
• This is delicious, but due to the avocado, might be best made on the day and serve with corn chips to dip on. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20707/best-ever-layered-mexican-dip/

Could you buy some ready made puff pastry and some posh sausages and make some sausage rolls? Easily assembled and could be cooked and cooled in advance.

Not sure about re-heating them with them containing pork, they might have to be served cold.

Lunch looks a bit sparse.

A pie? A vegetable tarte tatin?

Thanks for suggestions everyone!

What about some things to make a kind of appetiser board. Salami, cheese, figs, crackers, grapes.

How many people?

Bake a ham and take nice butter and French stick et voila a meal or snack to. Add some Camembert and cranberry to festive it up and under £10

Mary berry's trifle with pears. So easy, tastes fantastic, no cooking involved except for lightly toasting some flaked almonds.

I think "Could you buy some ready made puff pastry and some posh sausages and make some sausage rolls? Easily assembled and could be cooked and cooled in advance" is a good idea! Will say you can never have enough crisps and dips, wee snack type things!

I was watching Jamie Oliver's Christmas cookery program tonight and he was making filo pastry parcels shaped like Christmas crackers filled with brie, walnuts and chives. He made a cranberry dip as well using port and it looked absolutely amazing. I could sit and eat a plateful of them if I wasn't on a weight loss injection drug!

My go to offering for here is

Parboil chunks of pumpkin. Allow to cool a bit and slice.

Make an Italian tomato sauce.

In a lasagne dish, layer pumpkin slices and sauce, adding crispy bacon bits or crumbled feta (just a little).

Top with breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake at 180 until golden.

Keeps well. Very filling. Reheats easily.

I will be making it tomorrow for a buffet on Thursday 3 hours away.

What on earth is that? How do you incorporate the bread?

How is that under a tenner?

I feel so inadequate reading these threads.

How about making up a large basket of fruit … grapes, pineapple. Tangerines, in season apples and pears, mangos. Anything you fancy really.
There will be plenty of people who want something lighter and non stodgy to freshen their palate after a full on Xmas dinner.

My go to is a big jar of marinaded olives. Buy a big jar of olives, drain, pour in a good glug of olive oil, 3-4 cloves of crushed garlic, and the juice and grated rind of 3 lemons. Put in the fridge for a day or two, rotating occasionally.

Massive bowl of homemade coleslaw??

Cob loaf dip

Lol- a gammon joint (ham), bread to make sandwiches with it or potato salad

A great big pot of homemade soup and some lovely bread

What about a big plate of pre-cut fruit. I like to make it look beautiful by creating some sort of pattern, and it always goes down well. Think grapes, pineapple, melon, berries...