Food to share at buffet

[MissMarplesNiece]

My craft group is having a simple buffet during our meeting next week. The organiser has asked us to take something to share with the rest of the group. I know one member is taking mince pies. I've no idea what I can take. I'd appreciate some suggestions other than sausage rolls.

Brie and cranberry filo parcels. I don't have a recipe to suggest as I just make them - but they're easy with pre-rolled pastry, most people can eat them, and if you're feeling artistic you can make them look like mini presents! Also bite-sized brownies/blondies always go down well.

I like the tray of pre made sandwiches from Morrisons because often it’s a sea of really unhealthy snacks which leave you feeling a bit sickly.

Are there going to be plates and decent cutlery available. If so maybe a small joint of meat sliced (look for yellow sticker). If not something like mini quiche

Simon Hopkinson’s cheese biscuits.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/parmesan_biscuits_54963

I don’t roll them out. I roll it into a sausage (any diameter you like), chill it till it’s firm and then slice off rounds. It’s much easier and quicker.

They’re absolutely delicious!

Goats cheese and pickled beetroot vol au vents.
carrot cake (can be sliced)
veg sticks with homemade hummus

Pigs in blankets.

Do you have a Costco membership?

Loads of pre-made fresh things in there and cheaper than elsewhere.

The pre-made sandwiches from Costco go fast at any buffet I’ve been too.

Depends what your budget is too?

Made these for a picnic in the summer. Really easy but everyone raved about them.

@Kabloom they do look delicious think I’ll try these at Christmas. Thanks.

Individual quiches
Cranberry and pistachio blondies
Rocky road
Gingerbread cookies
Cheese straws

In Australia, someone would be whipping up a zucchini slice. Serve cold or warmed. Easy peasy.

www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipe/dinner/zucchini-slice-6436/

I’d take a quiche, or some carrot sticks and hummus.

I had to bulk make some snack nibbles recently and OMG this went down well
Bought melba toast and tapenade = £££ so this was a far cheaper (and nicer) version

A ton of melba toast home made. White sliced bread (normal pack), butter (real) both sides generously, oven until they go toast coloured - flip over halfway through. I did a whole loaf and in fact any you have leftover are delicious as "crisps" for dipping
Let them cool on a rack, Chop into nibble sizes 1x1 in say. I took the crusts off

Home make tapenade. Jar stoned black olives drained into nutribullet with a glug of olive oil, chopped garlic clove, fresh lemon juice, s&p. Blitz
Spread a teaspoon ish onto every square. I also did it with equal amount of soft cheese on same square but when I ran out of that kept going and it wasn't missed at all

At a guess if you do the melba toast the previous day it might go soggy. Billions of rounds of buttered toast did take a while. Also the tapenade goes a long way, but I may have done 2 big jars, I don't remember! Leftover tapenade is also lovely for a dip by itself :-)

You can't double dip with strangers.🤢

Cheese and mushroom tarts.
Wholemeal shortcrust to line a patty tin with 12 rounds
Chop half a box of mushroom and add to a pan with a knob of butter and a finely chopped shallot
Divide the mixture between the patty tins
Sprinkle each with grated cheddar
Top with beaten egg, whisked with a tablespoon of milk
Sprinkle with paprika
Into a hot oven for 10/12 minutes

Something like baguette or olive bread sliced and buttered (if you cut it, butter it and put it back together loosely in the packet it doesn't dry out) usually goes down well. Blinis with cream cheese and a little jar of caviar or some smoked fish. Seasoned chicken wings or legs. Agree the trays of pre-made sandwiches are a good move - M&S do trays of mini desserts that are really good too.

Jollof rice 😊

Scones.

How many people are part of your group?

Do any of the group have dietary requirements? A fresh fruit plate is a safe alternative and not beige food.

a cheeseboard, brie, cheese with something in like sage and a strong cheddar. Punnet of grapes and a box of crackers.

Club sandwiches with crust cut off

All Christmas buffets require a puff pastry Christmas tree! https://apronandwhisk.com/savoury-puff-pastry-christmas-tree-ham-and-cheese/

Ideally, the organiser would be coordinating this better.
Best idea from me: veggie platter with dips.

It may require a bit of input from the group to see what everyone else is already bringing, but at this sort of buffet when everyone is bringing sausage rolls and brownies and quiche, what I really need is raw veg and fruit.

I've done trays of antipasto skewers and caprese skewers in cocktail sticks for similar events, they always disappear really quickly. Really easy to make them look quite festive this time of year too.