birthday party food i need insperation please

[mothersmilk]

its my dd 3rd birthday party at the weekend and to be honest (i feel terible for saying this) im so god damn knackered lokking after two children and running a house i am less than enthused about it not to say it means entertaining dh's less than lovely nephews and equally annoying sister (im normally more tolarant please forgive me) so sufise to say im lacking insperation on what sort of spread to put on and was hoping (praying) you mumsnetters could help (save) my backside as i still need to out shine dsi (pathetic i know)i need to feed around 8 adults give or take 1 or 2 and around 5 children thankyou thankyou thankyou

I have started doing garlic bread instead of sandwiches as the children just want to lick the icing off everything rather than eat a sandwich. I was making sandwiches and then on bugger was eating them. Garlic bread is much easier!

ive got a 1yr birthday party next week, with 8 1 and under, and then 8 2/3yrs and think 12adults

i was planning to do the usual sandwiches, grapes, carrot sticks, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, crisps

as well as then biscuits/cakes afterwards

for adults either a french stick, or those bake in oven rolls and then a choice of pate&phili, pizza cut up,crips and dips and they help theirselves

though also now tempted to get garlic bread as now my mouth is watering

Just do hula hoops and chocolate fingers for the children. Then you won't feel bad when they don't eat any of the other food you've lovingly prepared.

Have you looked in the childrens' party bit in the new Food Section?

You can make sandwices more appealing by cutting them up with cookie cutters, stars/hearts/flowers etc.
I did fruit kebabs once which went down very well; I didn't bother with any sauce or anything messy - just fruit on a stick

Can you get a good mate or relative to help out with the prep? Makes it way more fun

Oh, and my ssil always makes rice crispie buns, so you might suggest yours does same ;)

I don't tend to do 'children food' mainly because dd1 won't eat sandwiches.

So I do.

Roast chicken
Boiled then roasted Gammon.
Boiled New pots
Salad
Crusty bread & Butter
Cheese & Biscuits.

then a few snacky bits
crisps
cheese savouries.
grapes

might add a few cakes and chocolate biscuits.

Jelly set in orange skin, halved, then quartered. I've never seen a food item consumed so quickly! I did these last weekend for dd2's family party.

Also, pinwheel sandwiches were a huge hit. Cut off the crust from a slice of bread, roll thinly with a bottle of wine rolling pin, fill with grated cheese and ham (or anyting else you fancy) and roll up. Wrap in cling film and set in fridge. Slice thinly just before serving. They are now dd1's preferred sandwich!