I am having a house party in a few weeks with around 50 guests. I always do food but I am stuggling to think of something different that is cheap and wont take all day to prepare.

I have previously done your standard sanwiches, etc etc but it just took too long to prepare.

I have done chilli and potato hash in slo cookers for people to help themselves.

big hotdog sausages in a slo cooker with rolls next to it - DIY buffet! with onions, chilli and sauces.

Anyone think of anything that will cost under 30 quid but be a bit different and tasty? I dont want to be getting stressed all day before the party because I usually end up with not enough time to get ready!

I recently did a buffet for a similar number. I did chicken in a curry dressing, pasta salad with salami, golden rice salad with apricots and almonds, salmon mousse, chicken bites (chicken dipped in egg and breadcrumbs and fried - I did those for the kids but everybody loved them!), cocktail sausages, two fruit salads and cheesecake. I did virtually all of it the day before the party.

Vol au vents with snails in garlic butter are always a talking point.

Tomato and onion salads

Chilli Con Carne

Curries

Jacket Potatoes with fillings.

Spanish Tapas are cheap and fun.

Middle Eastern dishes such as felafel,tagine of chicken,little meat pizzas,pitta bread and humous,cous cous and vegetables.

From Turkey there is my favourite Imam Bayaldi made from roast aubergine and translated means "The Cleric swooned".

Mexican dishes such as nachos and cheese with salad. Burritos,chimichangas,enchilladas and quesadillas. These are easy and guests make their own up.

Dips for starters can be quick and easy to make. Cheap and variable.

American Suppers can be fun too. I have been to some lovely parties where people just bought surprise dishes and we all shared it out.

I've found over the years that catering for that number of people is cheaper and easier if you do a hot buffet.

Your chilli, potato hash and hot dogs sound ideal. Lots of rice and an easy green salad will be good.

A pasta bake (maybe vegetarian or with tuna) with garlic bread and I also make big 'Desperate Dan' style pies (these aren't difficult - you can use frozen or ready made pastry) and serve with lots of new potatoes.

lasagne could work too actually!! its quite easy to prepare
means i have to mess about with the oven after a few drinks though and my party guests have a habit of standing in the kitchen!!

Lasagne is always a favourite
Go easy on the old 'vino collapso' till everything is served and get your friends in the kitchen to help you

Are you doing dessert?

jacket potatoes is a good idea!!! if i pre cook loads of spuds and put bowls of different fillings on the table..

i liek it!

Have to agree with the Chilli, Curry, Lasagne options - frozen roasters go down well too - roasted vegetables may be an option - they are tasty and not difficult to prepare and serve

You normally find simple things that didn't cause you too much stress go down well.

How about going Mexican!

1. Get a tart or muffin pan
2. Using a round cookie cutter or a drinking glass, make rounds out of soft tortillas to fit into the pan (make sure you include the sides when cutting.
3. Press the shaped tortillas into the tart pan.
4. Fill with a mince beef taco mixture (you could use a packet mix to make that or if you are interested I have an awesome mix that you could make yourself for the seasoning).
5. Fill the tortillas in the muffin pan and bake in a PREHEATED 180C oven for about 5 minutes. (very important that it is preheated)
6. After taking out of the oven top with a couple bits of tomato, lettuce and of course shredded cheese (for this size, I would suggest the fine shred).

All of this recipe could be prepared ahead of time and popped in the oven and touched up at the last minute.

To make all this the day before:
1) Prepare your tortillas, wrap in cling film and refrigerate (take out about 15 minutes or so before preparing).
2) Make the taco mince. Keep refrigerated until ready (again take out to room temperature)
3) The tomatoes, lettuce and cheese can also be prepared earlier and kept in the fridge to the last minute.

A last minute thought to this is to prepare the taco meat, dice tomatoes, shred cheese and lettuce, and just have a plate of tortillas or hard taco shells (make sure to bake the taco shells for 5 minute on 200c or they will taste stale). Just put it on as a buffet and they can make their own tacos. Have some sour cream on the side and maybe a salad or something?

Oh yeah, and heat up some refried beans to have on the side as well...yum...I'm wanting some now!