Party food ideas please

[foofi]

Am expecting around 70 people on Saturday night. Am working Thurs and Friday, so have no time until the actual day of the party. Please help me with EASY food ideas - and nothing that needs cooking or heating up during the evening!

(That's not a tall order at all is it? )

couscous salad
green salad
potato salad - not the crappy creamy - just cook new potatoes and toss in olive oil
meat platter
whole salmon - can cook b4 and serve cold
quiches

M&S do nice food but expensive

Thanks!

Can you elaborate about what to do with couscous?

And tell me more about the potato salad with olive oil.

Blimey foofi! Have nothing helpful to say (am not a big caterer) but am astonished that anyone could rustle up food for 70 in one day. Sorry - not meaning to be negative - just full of admiration for you. Will you let us know how it goes?

Just had a thought: what about hot dogs (nice sausages in finger rolls with tom ketchup) for the children?

And a mahoosive chilli with garlic bread or rice, + salad for the grown ups?

(and a veggie version for the veggies).

Easier than fiddling around with loads of dishes.

Someone told me that Sainsburys do a service for cartering - you pick items from a list and they supply everything ready served up on trays - you just pick up the food on the morning of the party. Could you perhaps order some of the food like this and add some of your own dishes e.g salads, coleslaw, rices, bread etc. This might work out a little more expensive but much less stressful...!

Mmm,I think I have left it too late to order pre-prepared food, expensive or otherwise.

(There are no children Eekamoose.)

I'm thinking quiches, salads, cheeseboards etc. Just haven't had to cope with that quantity at home before!

Home made hummus? Could cut up loads of veg for crudites, or have strips of toasted pitta to go with.

Just thought of something else good but it's gone...cursed pregnancy brain. Will think some more

Cheese board is a fab idea with lots of lovely bread - some sliced and some whole loaves that people can slice as they need to. BIG pile of grapes. Do be aware that it takes AGES to unwrap cheese, so do leave enough time and get the guests to help themselves to where it's kept if the cheeseboard needs topping up!

Big bowl of berries / melon + tinned lychees with jugs of cream

Gorgeous salad is watermelon chunks, feta cheese, olives, lime juice (just before serving) and rip a load of fresh mint leaves in to it.

Roast some chickens / ham during the day and just put them whole on the table with a couple of knives for people to hack away themselves and jars of mayo

Big pile of cold sausages cooked earlier on in the day.

Fish & chips or pizza from local takeaway???

Blimey! and you are only just thinking about the food!!

Are you mad??

Have no suggestions apart from a horror struck face!!!!!

I think I would do a mahoosive chilli and rice with pitta bread, meatball curry and rice and veggie pizza with salad.

Get guests to bring wine and dessert.

I think it would be nearly impossible to have pots big enough / enough of them to do a big hot main course?

Another idea - you may still get it - find someone to come and do a hog roast for you!!

or hire a fish and chip van!

We had one for DB's wedding and it was fab!!

would you not rather concentrate on looking fab and get M&S caterers in !!

what is the occasion?

Actually - I personally would do cheeseboard + bread and chickens and a big bowl of sage and onion stuffing (so people can make a delish sarnie if they want to) and grapes and leave it at that I think. No-one will starve and it will go well with wine!

Salmon mousse - looks really impressive can make ages before and put in freezer or day before and put in fridge. Serve with breads or crackers . A great centrepiece with cucumber placed around it.

Easy-peasy esp if you have food processor.

I would second the cheese and bread thing. My sister and I did this for a party and it was very popular. We bought lovely breads from Sainsbury's and loads of different cheeses - don't forget the grapes.

Collision - it's my 40th.
We have had a fish & chip delivery in the past, but don't feel like doing that this time.

Dips is a good idea. Couldn't possibly do chilli or similar in big enough quantities. It's got to be cold stuff, but I'm just not sure about quantities.

I wasn't planning on doing anything desert-like. There's plenty to drink, so that's not a problem.

Thanks for all the ideas. Any more? Any easy but goodlooking salads?

Red cabbage coleslaw? I've got a great recipe somewhere if you fancy it.

Guacamole is another ace dip that takes minutes to make and will make all your guests agreeably garlicky

Remembered what I was going to say before: marinaded and roasted chicken legs, served cold.

Greek salad...
It is best made up the night before...
popcorn ]grin]

Tomato/mozza salad

........
thinking

Purpleduck - sorry to be dim but what do I put on the top of the tomato/mozzarella?

Can't really be bothered to make guacamole or hummous, but they come in such small containers in the shops and I need lots!

If you've got a blender or food processor, I can promise that hummus and guac are but the work of a moment. If you haven't though, it will be a right arse.

I have - could I have recipes please?

Blimey foofi, the sheer quantity involved!!!

Here is a fab curried potato salad recipe.

Peel a ton of waxy potatoes and boil them.

Slice a ton of onions and cook very gently in loads of olive oil and a few pinches of salt.

When onions are cooked chuck in a load of curry powder and mix.

then add a jar (or more in your case) of apricot jam. Mix thoroughly.

Add onion mix to strained potates in a large bowl and when slightly cooler add loads of mayonnaise.

Cover with clingfilm and keep in fridge or cool place.

Really good with all kinds of cold meats and salads.

If you're interested I can suggest quantities a little more precisely (though have never done this for 70!!

foofi
Just lots of fresh basil on top

However
I like the cheese board/ bread/ grapes idea
maybe with alot of nice pickles etc?