HELP, IDEAS FOR A BUFFET OR SUCH FOR UNRELIABLE GUESTS.

[hifi]

next saturday from 4pm im having a get together for dh family.

last year they were all late, between 2 and 4 hours so need ideas for a spread that wont spoil.

9 adults and 3 kids.they dont normally eat typically british food so would like to do a british spread as they love it when i do a sunday roast etc.

tia

Appetisers - mini toad-in-the-hole - if you have the batter ready you could pop them in once guests arrive.

Sliced ham, sliced roast beef, baby potatoes with butter, coleslaw, salads, home made pork pie with pickles, cheese and beer?

It depends, do you want sit down dinner, or buffet style? Hot or cold?

Or do fish & chips - have your fish dusted in seasoned flour, cut into baby sized portions, with batter at the ready, a pot of mushy peas on a at a slow peep, and fresh chunky chips par-cooked and ready to blanche into colour? I don't know how long the chips would last before cooking, though, to be honest.

Never fear, someone will be along soon with proper advice!

DP has a friend like this. Last time he came over I made a slow roasted pork belly. The recipe says cook it for about 4 horus I think, the butcher said 90 minutes! I shoved it in, it cooked for about 2 and a half before he was supposed to arrive. He was an hour and a half late and we ate soon after. And it was delicious.

Recipe on waitrose here

A cold ham (they have them in Sainsbury and tesco at the moment)
jacket potato - put the jcks in to the oven for one hour and a half on gas 5. Then take them out of the oven and wrap in tin foil - put back in the bottom of the oven on gas 1 or half to keep warm

Serve the ham and jcts with a good selection of pickles, pickled onions, pickled beetroot or fresh beetroot.

Make a home made coleslaw with grated carrots, onion and cabbage and mix in with black pepper or garlic salt and mayonaise.

Sherry trifle and a blackberry and apple crumble for desert. The crumble can be put into the oven when they arrive as it will cook in 45 minutes.

thanks everyone, liking the idea of am and salad etc.oooh sherry trifle!