My mum recently made two big lasagnes, two quiches, potato skins, and lots of salad, and put it all out on the dining room table, buffet style. It went down a storm!
laurasnodden

Why not try chilli-con-carni and rice, plus a few extras on the side, then every one can help themselves, and that leaves less stress for you.
lindauk2002

I recently had a get-together for 25 people. I just bought some ready-made tortillas, got loads of cream cheese, refried beans, chopped lettuce, spring onions and tomatoes. I made guacamole, grated some cheddar cheese and shredded some cabbage for the fillings. If you wanted, you could also have some shredded chicken or mutton. Just put it all on the table and get all the guests to make their own tortilla rolls. I had no cooking to do, as all the ingredients just needed to be chopped. I also served a huge potato salad and a three-bean salad.
vkaur

How about having a spit roast? A friend of mine picked up a whole lamb for £60-£80 the other day and it easily fed 30 people. From there you can work on large salads; for example, a potato salad with mint and mayonnaise is easy and always goes down well.

I would not think about individual meals, more a large `help yourself' type affair. You could also pick up five or ten whole salmon, trout or tuna, and roast them stuffed with herbs oil and garlic. A whole load of baked potatoes will help to pad out the meal and require hardly any preparation, although bear in mind that they will take longer in the oven than the standard 40 minutes - better to microwave them, brush them with oil and salt, then put them in a hot oven to crisp up.
clare_uk

You should go with something large like roast lamb or pork, then include lots of interesting side salads, especially ones that can be made in advance. Last night I had eight friends round and did a big plate of fresh sliced tomatoes, with red onions, cucumbers, lemon, olive oil and crumbled feta cheese, kind of Greek salad.

Grilled courgettes (using a ridged pan) are great, and can be made a day in advance. If you have a good fishmonger, some will even poach whole salmon for you, and all you need to do is decorate it and make an accompanying mayonnaise.

And what about dessert? Pavlova's are also great, as you can make the meringues in advance, wrap them, and as they don't need storing in the fridge, you can leave the space for other things. Just whisk the cream, and top with fresh fruit before serving.
farristerry

I find, for larger groups, a buffet is always much easier than a sit-down meal, and much more fun. You can make a list of everything you need, then ask different people to bring something, e.g. desserts, salads, cooked nibbles, drinks, etc.

The main staples I always have are a cheese board, fresh bread, salads, dips and dipping vegetables and crisps.

Most supermarkets do pre-packed nibbles, which you just pop in the oven. Chicken pieces, Indian selections and Chinese bites are all really easy to find, and go down well.

As for puddings, everyone always loves trifle, and for us figure conscious girls, fresh fruit salad is a must!

Last tip: be organised, get lots of help, don't try to do everything alone, and enjoy yourself!
mcmahl

Coq-Au-Vin can be prepared in advance and reheated slowly before you serve it. Lasagne is also good, and you could serve more than one type; either chicken or vegetarian, for example. Other ideas are: Moussaka, garlic bread, garlic mushrooms, dips, and pasta and potato salads.

For desert, you could try Delia's chocolate tort, as it is very easy and can be done in advance, and everyone (especially the chocoholics) will be singing your praises for a long time! It is very rich, so one torte should do forty, if you give them small slices.
zoeemma

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