[cb2]

you have friends coming over one set for dinner will be 7 adults and 5 kids

the other set for lunch 4 adults and 5 kids

what would you serve them for nibbles/main/dessert???

After some new ideas
Oh and I in the first set is a vegetarian

Thanks in advance for your ideas

[Bel Rowley]

Nibbles I usually just go for a couple of types of dip, crackers, cheese, olives. If I'm feeling extra fancy I'll make my own flatbreads and dips.

For the first, maybe lasagna, one vegetarian one meat, plus a couple of salads and bread.

Or a Mexican buffet: tortillas with choice of fillings, meat and vegetarian options. Guacamole, salsa, all the usual accompaniments. Some Mexican rice as a side dish. Everything homemade not Old El Paso.

Dessert: maybe a lemon tart or a cheesecake + lots of fresh berries or a fruit salad, cream and icecream.

For the lunch: I find quiches quite easy to do, so maybe a couple of those with different fillings, plus salads and bread.

Or keep it even simpler and have rolls and nice bread, maybe a barbecued chook and/or selection of cold meats, salad, cheese, condiments, let everyone make their own sandwiches.

[ChunkyChook]

In this weather? Anything that didn't involve cooking.

[Holidayromp]

Salads and cold meats for both meals, fruit, jelly and icecream for dessert. I do very little cooking in this weather. Or failing that a bbq and salads.

[**Mel**]

Lunch I find easy to do a DIY thing, like Bel has said. Usually I would do wraps, grilled veg, cheeses, cold meats, BBQ chicken, salads... place all in the middle of the table and get everyone to make their own

A similar thing for dinner could be pizzas

Or for something fancier, the last dinner party I did, I made up veal roulades (could do with any thin cut of meat and stuff with whatever you want.). Can make these up earlier, then just cook when ready. I served with steamed greens and smashed potatos I think.

Dinner nibbles/entree for me is often an antipasto platter

ETA: or, for that many people and in this weather, a BBQ

This post has been edited by **Mel**: 04/01/2013, 07:26 AM

[elmo_mum]

if doing tacos/mecican...
try this for the vege

fry an onion and garlic
add some diced zucchini
can of drained/rinsed red kidney beans
some diced tomatoes/or can
add a dash of sweet chilli sauce

cook down a bit

serve :
in nachos/buritos etc
add to nacos
serve as is with humos (as a dip)
on top of spuds

[cb2]

Great ideas thanks everyone!
Mexican buffet is a great one as is the DIY rolls/sandwiches something to please everyone

[Pearson]

I like the Mexican option. You could cook it on the BBQ, make it grilled, or is the kids like mince, make that on the BBQ in a pot/pan.

Dessert could be ice cream cones or bowls with toppings. Or gelato.

Lunch BBQ chook, salads etc, with coffee and cookies for dessert, keep it light, specially of these are on the same day.