Please help with ideas

[Daisy]

Next Saturday is our DS1's birthday. They can't do anything to celebrate because their garden is being redone and is just a sea of mud at the moment, so we offered to do a barbecue here. It will have to be on the Sunday as GS1 has got his theory driving test on the Saturday.

Well, in the nature of these things, it's become more than just a family get together. DS1 has had the worst year of his life and is still facing a huge battle with his health, so we wanted to make it as special as possible. So we've invited DS2 and girls, DIL1's mum and dad, plus their OHs (divorced and both remarried) plus a friend from his uni days with his wife and DDs, and possible another old friend and his OH. So - 18 to 20 people, socially distanced in the garden.

We've got a gazebo with open sides and a very large umbrella thingy, and although the forecast isn't great, it's not 100% guaranteed rain. My huge dilemma is what to feed everybody?

Originally we were going to do a barbecue, but I think that's too many for OH to cook for, so I'm looking at doing a buffet - hot or cold. I need ideas for dishes I can do large scale, preferably a day or two ahead, and easy!

All suggestions are welcome - please!

[Oma]

Daisy a great favourite of ours when we do a buffet is Mini Yorkshire puddings with either thin sliced beef in or mini sausages , the boys loved these with a bowl of Tomato ketchup to dip in and the adults liked Horse radish dip or a jug of gravy ,

Good old fashioned Vol-au-vent's you cant go wrong with either , nice bite size finger food
We do a big pan of Curry and one of Chilli and enough rice for both

Huge bowls of Roast potatoes too they always go well

[Gemini]

A big pasta dish never goes amiss, and can be made to suit any veggies too

[Plantaholic]

My DD often caters for a crowd and she usually turns to Lasagne or Chilli. I find blinis with sour cream and smoked salmon very popular, you can make the blinis ahead and keep them in the fridge. I have a marvellous recipe for an overnight salad, very popular over Christmas, there are a few recipes on line. Why not a trifle, that is always popular. Marmite whirls, pastry spread with marmite, rolled up and then sliced. They can be made a day or two before the day. Coronation chicken is quite easy to make and can be kept in the fridge overnight. I think that is enough to be going on with. Good luck.

[Nanto2girls]

I think there is some good suggestions there for you Daisy.

[WeeGranny]

Is it too late to order food ready prepared food from Waitrose/Sainsbury's?

[Plantaholic]

That sounds good to me WG

[Daisy]

WG - yes, I think it's a bit late for that, unfortunately. We've been round Sainsbury's today hoping to get a large ham or something similar, but the shelves were almost empty! I got a large piece of salmon and have another in the freezer, so I can cook that.

I'm concerned about doing finger foods that need last minute attention, or assembly - I know I always run out of time, although I love all the suggestions! I can make most things gluten-free and dairy-free, but am struggling with knowing what is low in phosphate (for DS1's medical needs). I need to chat to DIL.

Plant your overnight salad sounds great - would you let me have the recipe, please? Coronation chicken would be a good idea as well. I've never made it, but there's always a first time. I wonder if anyone has made it dairy-free?

Oma - can you buy the mini Yorkshire puddings ready made?

I will probably do a big bowl of chilli and will also do rice and GF pasta - so that's one 'must'.

I have to confess, I've never made a lasagne.

I was thinking of doing jacket potatoes - they seem to go down well.

Any more ideas would be gratefully received - you're all helping, thank you.

[Gemini]

Daisy, I was about to suggest jacket potatoes. We always find they go down well. For me they can be a life saver, if as often happens people have cooked a chili or curry and something with beef, that leaves me with no options. Plain rice is boring but baked potatoes even with just butter are delicious

I love Coronation chicken and have never made it. I made lasagne - once. Life is too short as they say!! I just make a big pasta bake, sometimes with chicken and vegges in, sometimes no meat, with plenty of cheese in it!

[Oma]

Yes Daisy I usually buy Aunt Bessie's mini Yorkshires I think supermarkets do there own make mini's too

[Daisy]

Oma - thanks - I might get some of those. I make GF ones which are quite nice but not as light as ordinary ones.

Gem - that's my thinking on jacket potatoes, too. I probably need to keep things separate - if I did say a chicken pasta bake I'd have to make it gluten and dairy-free, so I'd do pasta on its own, same with rice, and make a separate chicken dish.

You can see why I'm desperate for suggestions!!

[WeeGranny]

Daisy, my cheat's recipe for Coronation Chicken : Cooked chopped up chicken; mayonnaise;lemon juice;curry powder; chopped apricots; sultanas( optional).

Mix mayonnaise with a squeeze or two of lemon juice to thin it down a bit. You could always use some of the apricot juice if you're using tinned in place of lemon juice or a mixture of both.
Add curry powder ( taste to see if you've added enough) to mixture.
Add chicken ,apricots and sultanas ( if using) and combine.

Spoon on top of a dish of cooked rice, with some chopped spring onions added or peppers. and garnish with some greenery( Preferably edible)and some more apricots.

Sorry, I don't have accurate measurements, depends on size of chicken, how strong you like your curry flavour etc!

I do have a recipe for making from scratch, but it is a fiddle and takes a bit of time. You could cheat even further by using packet of microwaveable flavoured rice.

[Daisy]

WeeGranny - that's my kind of recipe! Many thanks - I shall give that a go, although I will push the boat out and use ordinary long grain rice. OH accidentally bought 'easy-cook' rice once and I couldn't get it right.