Ideas for Food at a 30th Party?

[Shortie]

We'll be hosting a joint 30th early next month, and though my folks have offered to have it in theirs to save us having to deal with the mess afterwards (actually... it was put across more like - you don't have a say in this ) my Mum seems to have decided that she's doing EVERYTHING for it, including the food

While I'm not trying to sound ungrateul, I wasn't hankering after buffet food - as in.. potato wedges, pizza, chicken nuggets..

When Wayne and I usually throw a party, it's in summer and we have a BBQ. Chunks of meat, burgers, sausages, salad, dips, pasta salad, crisps and nuts to nibble on. That kind of thing. I'm not used to 'catering' in colder months

I've subtly told my Mum today I wanted to decide (and will happily cook) the food. She was a tad put out, but I now realise I need to have a plan of action up and running - fast

I was thinking along the lines of homemade lasagne, curry, bits for fajitas

Can anyone help me out here? I'm not sure yet on numbers, but things can eaily be mulitplied

Thank you

[Glutton4...]

If your 'gang' are anything like ours, they'll want the Barbie lit (s*d the weather) a slow-cooker (or two!) full of Chilli, loads of Garlic bread and Marmite Potatoes (will get recipe off Hubby if you're interested) and beer.

Oh, and gallons of my Sloe Gin - even the teetotallers go home legless from our parties!

What's the address and date then or is it a secret LOL!

[BumbleB]

I agree with the above. We just celebrated my sons 30 do. He had a hog roast in the garden but a slow roast joint always goes down well - I once cooked a 24 hour pork joint from an american recipe, it was so tender and tasty.

[zazen999]

I agree; do what you normally do and add a meat chilli and a veggie chilli [if you have any veggies], some rice and you won't go far wrong. Warms the cockles, I've just finished a plateful off 10 minutes ago

[Shortie]

Hmmm... Stupidly I hadn't thought about doing a BBQ anyway.... Maybe we could add a few more 'picking indoor' foods for those who don't want to eat BBQ food in cold weather - like season chicken wings (seasoned maybe with cracked black pepper, thym and lemon juice?) and then a bone warming chilli and rice too

Ooo... you're welcome over! It'll be on the 3rd October (Wayne's burfday) in Edmonton

[kirsty b]

I did Nigella's buttermilk roast chicken for my brother's wedding earlier this year and it was really scrummy.

Go with what you like, I'm sure your mum will be ok with it. Maybe she could do a few nibbles if she wants to help.

[broadway]

Hi Shortie,

How about a big pan of Paella?

[bobleponge]

Cant go too far wrong with tortilla/fajita type stuff. Its what I generally do if I have people over, just make sure I hide all the packaging before anyone gets there.
Enjoy the party

[HeyWayne]

Jacket spuds on a barbie - on a cold evening with heaps of chilli. Mmmm

Great name your other half has by the way - well chosen.

[lainey lou]

Nigella's fully loaded potato skins are great, I did them at new year, went down a storm. You can get them all prepped up in advance (day before if you like) and just whack them in the oven when you want them. Yum!

[lynda66]

i have a gazebo and 2 gas BBQ's ... as it goes dark or colder, move the BBQ's into the gazebo ... and it usually stays warm enough till people start to bugger off then you can move into the house ... saves on cooking loads of stuff

[janeyo]

hog roast always goes down well with my family.

[lynda66]

hog roast always goes down well with my family.

do you spit roast it

*gets coat

[HayleyB]

Chilli and jackets, bangers on the BBQ, pumpkin soup, hearty and warm that's what we are aiming for on our 10 years since moving in mini party (Nov 5th) with our next door neighbours (on three sides )...

[pigletwillie]

Make a clay oven and do a pizza night. You can make a temporary one and get rid of it the day after.

On our bonfire night parties, we do a big load of good snorkers, fried onions and rolls to stuff them in, mushy peas, a big tray of faggots and a big chicken jalfrezi. Use paper plates and situate a round the garden some trugs with bin liners in for all the rubbish.