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Boxing Day buffet - help needed.


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Old 07-11-2012, 21:19
JOHNOR
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i know it's a little early, but i really need to be organised this year (moving house, finances etc..)

anyway, i'm hosting boxing day for 6 adults and 3 kids and i need to make it special, but i'm lacking in inspiration. i want a nice buffet that doesn't cost the earth, but is more special than sausage rolls and sandwiches. it doesn't need to all be home made, if anyone can recommend any decent m&s party food, i'll buy a few of those any suggestions/ideas?

got a thing for halloumi at the minute, any nice appetisers involving halloumi? also really love balsamic and basil oil with a decent warm bread to dip into it, any recommendations for a nice dipping bread that can be served warm?
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Old 07-11-2012, 22:41
yorkieUK
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M&S do some nice party food as you can imagine. Their Pork Belly squares with a barbecue sauce are particulary nice. Last year we had some Waitrose stuff which was very nice indeed - especially the Beef Yorkshire puddings. And do not rule out Iceland. Some of their party food is pretty good like the luxury mini beef wellingtons.
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Old 07-11-2012, 23:00
fortytwo
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Not particularly original but the bought party food I use are the frozen spring rolls and mini pizzas. They are always popular with both children and adults and very easy to do.
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Old 07-11-2012, 23:11
wizzywick
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What always goes down a storm in our house is a bowl of salad, a selection of cold meats and pickles, and a baked potato! Once the spud is gone and the initial helping of the meat and pickle feast, the food stays around throughout the day so people can help themselves! Of course later you bring out the cheese selection! Don't forget the French sticks!
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Old 08-11-2012, 06:14
sixtynine
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The M&S party food is on offer at the moment 3 for 2 and freezable. Worth bearing in mind if you have room in your freezer now?
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Old 08-11-2012, 08:27
norbitonite
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Foccaccia (sp?) would make a good dipping bread served warm.

An easy, cost effective dish for a buffet is a smoked salmon paté. Buy some smoked salmon trimings, whizz together with a tub of Philly (or simlar), the juice of half a lemon or lime and a generous teaspoon of horseradish sauce.
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Old 08-11-2012, 08:42
florencee
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Actually, it might be not what you were thinking of, but making the table and room look really special can make it look way more memorable- draw the curtains, and maybe black out the windows a bit if theirlight.

Turn off the main lights and light loads of (unscented) candles. Candlelight makes everyone look beautiful anyway and with a couple of floor or desk lamps too you can all see easily enough : )
It also somehow makes everyyhing look very exciting!

If you have any cut glass- which you can pick up cheap at charity shops- that reflects the light back beautifully too, as will any metals.

Id have a selection of rolls etc, as well as stuff people can make up themselves.

Rolls like- filo filled withcheese and spinich, dusted w nutmeg. Or simmer down some sliced red onion in olive oil, orange juice and sugar, put into baked blind cases, top w soft blue cheese and whack under grill til it melts and bubbles (my recipie mmmnnmmn). Cheap, easy, quick, yummy!!

I love m&s snd waitrose but to cook for a special family meal id always make it myself. Its a nice gift to give people : )

I cant think of anything other than just grilling/griddling hallomi and dressing with lemon juice.
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Old 08-11-2012, 08:46
florencee
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And i make 'pizzas' by heating flat wraps on the hob til lightly browned in places, then spreading thick pasta sauce on.
Grill till its a little darker.
Sprinkle w strong cheese- dolcelatte, stilton etc, grill again.
The edges might blacken a bit- just snip or crumble off- youre left with a very crisp pizza with hot pools of bubbling cheese.

Top with torn basil or spinich.
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Old 08-11-2012, 09:58
Babycakes15
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When we have our christmas buffet, we always have a glazed ham. I boil it, either in coke, cider or just plain water, then glaze it with whatever I find on the internet that sounds nice, always finding new ideas. It's my favourite and it lasts for days.

I like something brie and cranberry too, one year my friends dad made brie and cranberry filo parcels which were so good! I know you can get stuff like this from M&S and Tesco now though. The party food from M&S and Tesco is good, usually on offer and lots of variety

As somebody said above, baked potatoes are great or a bag of frozen wedges that can just go in the oven.

Sometimes we'll put a big pizza in the oven and cut it up small, that way even the fussy eaters have something, or put some frozen scampi in the oven.

My family always makes far too much though, we pick at leftovers for a while and it's a bit of a guilty pleasure
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Old 08-11-2012, 10:09
kimindex
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I'm thinking of doing a buffet and ideas so far are mini tartlets (filo pastry in mini tart tins filled with a tart custard and different flavours, such as mushroom, tomato and spinach)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Class...2364797&sr=8-1
Croustades with three types of nuts: one with asparagus,almonds roasted in brown butter and manchego, one with pecans and saint agur, one with butternut squash, walnuts and feta.

Mini baked potatoes with sour cream
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/t...llandaise.html (bit like this)

Galloping horses
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3...lloping-horses

Slices of Spanish tortilla
Feta bites but with the mixture inside the tomato
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2...ta-pesto-bites

Some salads
Mini rostis topped with something
Grapes rolled in soft cheese and chopped nuts
Meatball sliders
Cucumber & feta bites
Sausage rolls with stuffing mix instead of sausages
Brie & cranberry twists
(These brie pops looks good
http://www.cuisinegenie.ie/ )
Peppadew pepper fritters
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Old 08-11-2012, 10:30
burton07
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I would go down the cold meat selection route. A Pasta salad, a rice salad and a green salad. A selection of cold sliced turkey, ham and beef. Crisps, peanuts mini pizzas, cheese and biscuits. Celery sticks filled with cream cheese - Mmmm lovely. Potato wedges or even a big tray of roasties. Easy and cheap.

Forget Marks & Spencer Pah! Who needs 'em. The buttons always fall off and the hems come down anyway.
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Old 08-11-2012, 16:47
gerr60
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After a blow out on xmas day it has to be cold meats, salmon, and plenty of salad.
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Old 08-11-2012, 17:30
JOHNOR
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Thank you all so much, some really great ideas & inspiration.

Will definitely be buying some candles & creating a nice festive atmosphere. Started stocking up on the mulled wine and bucks fizz today
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Old 08-11-2012, 17:45
mariets
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I usually do a ham, with potato/pasta and green salads. Smoked salmon, pate, cheese, and crusty bread always go down well, and because my husband loves them,I make a dish of potted prawns.

I try to avoid anything that requires heating or cooking once guests arrive- apart from toast for the potted prawns.


I always buy ready-made desserts.
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Old 08-11-2012, 18:03
clm2071
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Home made meatloaf always goes down a storm at ours, cheap to make and people tend not to have it often so its a bit different.

A big bowl of fruity/spicy/nutty cous cous is the usual as well.

Personally I like a big heap of chicken wings.

Cheese and crackers is a must.

And another vote for salmon from me as well.

Put all of that on and I'll be happy to attend!
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Old 09-11-2012, 09:44
JOHNOR
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it all sounds great, thanks everyone.

need to start working on my menu now.
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Old 09-11-2012, 21:51
missyalicia
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I had a Boxing Day buffet with M&S food but I ordered ready made from the catalogue. There was good variety, it looked and tasted good. Perhaps a little more expensive but totally worth it because I could enjoy my guests and there wasn't a lot of work to do. Everyone said they really enjoyed it. There was no food left.
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Old 10-11-2012, 02:26
gemma-the-husky
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you could make a hot dish or dishes

chilli/ lasagne something like that

makes the cold buffet go further.
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Old 10-11-2012, 11:18
burton07
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I usually do a ham, with potato/pasta and green salads. Smoked salmon, pate, cheese, and crusty bread always go down well, and because my husband loves them,I make a dish of potted prawns.

I try to avoid anything that requires heating or cooking once guests arrive- apart from toast for the potted prawns.


I always buy ready-made desserts.
Can you put your potted prawns recipe up on here please?.
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Old 10-11-2012, 12:47
tvfanny
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The first time I had halloumi it had been fried until just coloured and then cut up and sprinkled on a salad. You could do this in advance.
Iceland are great for things like mini pizzas which I think the kids would love also get a mega bag of cocktail sausages and put them in the oven with hoisin sauce and sesame seeds, sweet and sour sauce and some sort of mustard mix, all in different dishes, all in advance.
I'm doing Delias recipe for ham - for the last 30 minutes cover in English mustard and demerara sugar.
A lot of the supermarkets do brochures for Christmas/food. Pick some up and peruse!
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Old 11-11-2012, 11:04
turquoiseblue
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I got a bread maker for christmas last year and our Boxing day buffet was fantastic with homemade bread as the centre piece!
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Old 13-11-2012, 20:05
Babycakes15
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Forgot to add, how about sausage rolls?
I always make my own christmas time, find them less greasy.
I buy puff pastry and whatever sausages I fancy, take the meat out of the skins and layer on the pastry, brush with beaten egg. I've always made them fresh, but so I'm not sure how well they freeze, but I always have sausages and puff pastry in the freezer. I like to use a variety of sausages, pork and apple are my fave but I use Cumberland aswell. To make them veggie, you can make cheese and onion rolls? They're nice too.

Mini chicken kebabs? Cut chicken up small and marinade for in your favourite curry paste and natural yoghurt. I usually bake them on foil in the oven (less washing up) or grill them, then put them on mini cocktail sticks
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Old 13-11-2012, 23:30
JOHNOR
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You are all life savers, all of the suggestions are simple enough but will make it really special.

Craving halloumi now
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Old 21-11-2012, 20:12
Batfink
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Our buffet will consist of a cheese board, chutneys, pickles relishes etc along with a selection of cold meat from lunch (turkey and maple glazed ham)

Some dips, brusetta, warm bread, quiche and no doubt plenty of wine
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