Children's party nightmare

I can't believe Wizzy is 3. Madness!

How about waitrose? or could you do an afternoon tea?

25 adults. Blimey.

Why can't you do the same food?

Sainsburys platters for the grown ups and picnic bags for the kids?

Is a BBQ an option at all? I always find it easier to cater for larger groups by doing a BBQ - probably because it means Mr O-L does the actual cooking!

Some nice burgers, sausages, kebabs etc and loads of salad and potatoes?

We would have had a BBQ for Zacs 1st birthday but it's in Feb and the weather wasn't great. We had 35 adults and about 15 children - numbers got a bit out of hand! All we did was lots of filled rolls, quiches, vol au vents (my mum doesn't think a party is a party without a vol au vent!), chicken goujons, sausage rolls - nothing fancy just your typical buffet affair really. Went down really well and was very easy to prepare.

I'd be hiring a hall somewhere, getting a bouncy castle for the kids to play on and just doing sarnies, crisps etc. for everyone. It won't be that much bother to do party food Hole. I had 13 children for MissSun and approx 2 adults for each child that came so about the same.

We hired a local soft play area and the adults just ate the kids leftovers, there was plenty.

I know, I don't know where the last 3 years have gone! Sadly, we've no Waitrose here either and our Sainsbuggers doesn't do the party platters.

Moglie, there will a lot of the same people here as last year and I'd rather not serve up the same thing again, I know for a fact that at least some of the people would comment on it. I know it shouldn't be an issue, but for me it is ?

Mr Hole has suggested a BBQ for the grown ups and party food for the children, but I think a BBQ for that many adults is going to turn out super expensive once you've factored in the cost of half decent meats.

<sigh>

In January we had 28 adults for lunch. I borrowed 2 large slow cookers from friends. In one I made a large vegetarian chilli, in the other a chicken korma, then I made loads of rice, jacket potatoes, salad - went down really well and I was able to prepare everything early on and leave it in the slow cookers to stay warm

We're already hiring a bouncy castle because she's been begging for one for weeks ?

Ooo ice queen's idea is fab. That'd be easy enough and you could do naan breads etc. Mmmmm

Sorry, how rude of me, thank you for all your replies.

I think my main problem is I have a fairly small kitchen and a single oven, oh how I miss my big six ring double oven from our old place <sob>

Well I think the curry/chilli idea is fab and so is doing buffet/party type food and if the people you invite turn up their noses then i'd be most put out, I'm just happy to get something for nothing and not have to work for it ?

Both ideas would be easier than BBQ IMHO

Would they not be a bit hot for a summer party though? And how on earth do I cook enough rice for 25 people? Although I could def do the baked potatoes.

Gah, I'm sure it will be fine am just having a stress and a wibble.

Thanks again, everyone, I d o appreciate it ?

I would do baby roast potatoes (roasted in trays in the oven with olive oil, salt and rosemary- maybe some garlic too). They're good cold too. With either Morrocan spiced chicken skewers (with peppers and onions on) which can be bbq'd or done in the oven (also fine, even if not piping hot when served) and sliced loin of pork. Or a big rib of beef. Served with green salad with parmesan and nice bread. Could do a couscous salad too?

I'd eat curry any time but i'm a pig. If you don't fancy doing that but you like the idea of baked spuds can't you just do spuds and various fillings?

It will be fine, honestly, if I can do it then anyone can. I'm not a great host, i'm too much of a stress head.

I'm afraid the chilli idea doesn't work for me as it's summer.

What time is the party, Hole? I'm liking the afternoon tea idea, that way you don't have to do too much food. You could get a local caterer to make sandwiches, make a big tray of brownies and a cake, and then buy in some biscuits, crisps etc.

If your M&S hadn't shut down, what kind of stuff would you be thinking about ordering in?

Baked potatoes sounds like a good idea to me, with various fillings and salads.

You've just reminded me of my Grandad catering for my 21st birthday. Everyone seemed very impressed with the roast beef sarnies as it was the first platter to empty. I only found out later that he'd actually made tongue sandwiches, he's always been a skinflint....

I would go for spuds and fillings

L
xx

Actually the afternoon tea could be a goer, I'm sure I could find a local caterer to do the sandwiches etc. The party will be in the afternoon so that works doesn't it? I could do the salads myself.

Oompa-Loompa, last time I ordered from M&S we had cold meat platters (which would have been much dearer to do myself) cold chicken pieces, some posh sandwiches and salads, trifle, profiteroles and fruit salads.

Next year she's having a McDirties party whether she likes it or not ?

It does work, I think.

Order sandwiches; make:

Mini muffins, sweet or savoury (I have a recipe for courgette and cheese muffins that are lovely and a cinch to make; you can make the batter ahead of time and fridge)
Chipolata sausages
Scones w jam and cream and lemon curd (bought)
Cakes x 2 (or get a friend to make one)
Brownies

Buy:
Biscuits
Crisps

Remember that with the adults, both parents won't necessarily come. I think 25 is a very high estimate! ?

Buy in sarnies? Are you mad? ?

I can send you clotted cream if you go with afternoon tea, it always goes down well,

Errrrr, if he wants all the guests then he should take care of all the arrangements!

how about doing an aldi equivilant? they do pretty good deli meats, salami, bressiola (sp), ham etc. and fab deli veg in jars. add some mozzerella and ciabatta and i bet you could feed 25 pretty cheaply.

can't advise about the ankle biters though

I'm having a little 'do' for Finns 2nd.... am doing Salmon (baked in lemon in oven), Gammon in pineapple juice (slow cooker), salads (shop bought), mini rolls, samosas & bhajis (oven in the am), sausage rolls, (oven) cocktail sausages (ready to eat), and mini yourkshire puds with beef and horseradish cream.... and dips and chips.

Concentrating on easy stuff so I can enjoy the party, I did roughly the same last year but its a buffet what do people expect... If you want to be dif from last year do Salmon, a couple of ready prepared tartelettes from Sainsburys, breads, cheeses, pates.... and different salads.

Ooh, am loving the idea of scones, cream and jam/lemon curd! Will def have that recipe off you too, please, Sophie.

Titchbunny, that's a lovely offer but I couldn't ask you to do that, thank you so much though ?

Sun, I suspect the fillings a sandwich shop/caterer could offer me would be far superior to anything I'd make myself, and by the time I've bought enough have decent bread and all the gubbins for fillings it would be just as easy to have them delivered, they're not that dear <have been googling> ?

Mal,, they would end up with approximately nothing or he'd spend 400 quid on an Indian takeaway for everyone ?. I don't mind really, once I have my head around it I'm fine.

Thank you so much everyone, afternoon tea it is. You lot are brilliant! ?

Bacon, courgette and cheese muffins

350g plain flour
1tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarb
1/2tsp salt
3 bacon rashers, rind off, finely chopped (I cook it briefly)
3 courgettes, grated
75g cheese, grated (I use more)
3 eggs
225ml buttermilk
5 tbsp sunflower oil

Mix dry ingredients, bacon, courgettes and cheese. Beat eggs and buttermilk and stir into dry ingredients. Spoon into muffin cases and bake at 200 for 20 minutes (for mini ones). It makes about 36.

You can freeze them and reheat once cooked, or freeze the batter.

It's no hassle, I am sending Mrs Jess some things this week, I am bringing cornwall to the masses?, give me a shout if you change your mind,

Thank you both, you're lovely xxx ?

If you want to go down the platter route local sadwich shops often do catering. In my experience they're surprisingly good quality and value.

ETA I managed to miss the entire second page of this thread where the above had already been said. D'oh! It must be a good idea though!

Afternoon tea sounds a good idea. I don't think there is any need to provide a full meal for the adults at all, TBH- I would either do tea or just nibbly things. I certainly wouldn't expect a meal if i went to a children's party in the afternoon.

Barbecue idea is mad, IMO, with all those toddlers on the rampage, unless your garden layout is such that it won't mean constant mega-vigilance.

HH - shabby chic tea party sounds fab - lots of cupcakes & scones laid out on cake stands & fresh pink lemonade & cucumber sandwiches & an eton mess.

Go to tesco or IKea if nearer & buy a basic cup & saucer & get the children to decorate them.