Buffet for the reception after the Christening this Sunday

[NiceCupOfTea]

OK. This is being done on a shoestring, but I love cooking so it isn't too much effort as far as I'm concerned. So far I have come up with the following and I think I just want to know that it isn't too stingy or horrible sounding. - roasted chicken drumsticks (salt and rosemary to crisp up the skins � I've got 40 very large drumsticks) - two baked hams (I'll slice these up on the day for use on crusty bread) - quiche lorraine - quiche with just ricotta - quiche with spinach and ricotta - quiche with tomato - cheese platter (my favourite two aunties are doing this with crackers etc) - couscous salad (cooking this up with vegetable stock and then chopping finely diced tomatoes and cucumbers into this with cumin seeds or maybe poppy, see how I feel on the day - suggestions welcomed) - butter bean salad (my favourite adopted auntie is doing this one) - pizza plain mozzarella (making the base etc myself as want a very large square and tasty one for easy chopping) - pizza mozzarella with pepperoni (again from scratch) - some sandwiches, i.e. two trays of tuna mayonnaise and two trays of egg mayonnaise. - large basket of fresh small rolls - bowl of salad � greens, tomatoes etc - condiments - butter, chutneys, mayonnaises, mustard etc - two large cakes (one decorated as a Christening cake) I've not bothered with crisps and nuts as it's in a pub where these are available anyway should anyone suddenly have an overwhelming urge for them. I need a little help with food for kids who rebel against the food listed above. Cakes, sweets, sausage rolls??? Anything else I'm missing or does it all need a total re-vamp? If so, how - constructive only, and bare in mind I'm cooking the lot from scratch (including the bread rolls - I did say I love cooking lol)

[elephanto]

Sounds a wonderful feast to me. Interested in your butterbean salad recipe please. How about dips and dunks for children. Veggie crudite, chicken nuggets - home made from chicken breast on sticks, homemade mini lamb burgers on sticks - put pkt sainsbury's lamb into food processor with one large onion and 3 tsps mint sauce pulverise then shape into lickle balls and cook in oven put on sticks and serve with mint yoghourt dip. Any good? Have a happy day.Elephanto

[NiceCupOfTea]

Love the mini-lamb burger and chicken stick ideas. I know our little lot, they'll want a tomato based sauce, but the adults will probably prefer the yoghurtey one. I already have mince and chicken so will definitely do this.

It's all cold finger foods, as getting hot plates and what not into the pub would have been far too much hastle due to health and safety requirements. With the weather being forecast as rain we can't organise a barbecue either in case it went the wrong way and we were left stranded.

Thank you so much for your help!

[NiceCupOfTea]

oh I forgot to say - I'll let you know the butter bean salad recipe asap. My mum's best friend is doing it for the buffet and she is an amazing cook.

[POLLIANNA]

What about a rice based dish. Like a nice savoury rice with a cubed smoked sausage through it. We use Asda pallea savoury rice. Its really nice hot or cold. Instead of normal tuna mayo, why not add some peppers or onion. For the chicken, cook the chicken legs, mix in a bowl 4 tablespoons of brown fruity sauce, 3 tomato sauce, 1 wouster sauce (sorry can't spell it) and 1 brown sugar. Pour over chicken and cook for 10mins. It tastes like the peking sauce from the chinese. Its really nice for a dipping sauce. When trying to cook on a budget i normally go round the supermarket and look at their party food and then go home and try and make them at half the price. Your menu looks fab.

[country_boy]

Can't add any more, just wanted to ask if I could come!! Sounds lovely!

[valerieb1254]

That sounds good to me. I've helped with buffets for both my grandsons christenings and a few birthday parties. One thing I always do is trays of fresh fruit, bite size pieces of, Mandarins( segmented )pineapple, melon, strawberries ( cut in half if large
) red and green grapes,kiwi fruit,whatever you want. I don't use apples,pears,plums or bananas,as they soon disclolour.Using a square tray I arrange them either in horizontal,vertical or diagonal lines. Takes a bit of patience but well worth it,and always go down a treat.
Enjoy your buffet and have a great day.
Val.

[Alibobs]

Sounds wonderful - i am sure the kids will love the pizza and the sarnies

[dinki]

When making salads etc always remember if adding fish or meat to them to leave some aside for veggies, it is a growing trend amoung the young. Peer pressure at school etc

A friend did a similar party a few months back and put on a small table of sweets and cakes etc which went down well with the kids (and big kids), a few naughties if not a problem, make some cornflake cakes etc, cheap and tasty.

Hope this helps.

Try and remember to relax and enjoy the day.

Hope all goes well

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thank you again for all your wonderful input. I've just finished writing thank you letters to everyone who helped and/or bought presents for the baby so I thought it was your turn.

Elephanto - the dips went down a treat. We had hummus, guacamole and also Sainsbury's taramasalata (never made it before so cheated, as I love the stuff). I did some chicken slabs quickly in the oven after marinading them in a tomato and yoghurt sauce - it did work honest!

Pollianna - that sauce sounds lovely. I'll try it next time I cook chicken.

Val - While we were putting all the stuff in the van I suddenly realised there was no fruit apart from the grapes for the cheese platter that my aunties had provided. I ended up being talked out of sticking in all the apples, bananas and blueberries in my fridge as I would need food the next day myself. I definitely need to remember a fruit platter for next time though and can't believe I forgot to do it this time.

dinki - all the salads were veggie anyway. Everything that had meat in was really obvious. I have loads of veggie mates and know how annoying it is for them when you can't tell. I also make sure I cook and prepare stuff in my kitchen so there aren't any contaminations. I like the idea of a table of sweets - I will definitely do it next time, regardless of if it's a kids or an adult's party.

country-boy and Alibobs - everyone was welcome!