Depends whether you want hot or cold food. If I am doing a hot buffet I tend to do jacket potatoes because they can be put in the oven and left to get on with it. I then fry off a load of mince, onions and garlic - separate into two pans and turn one into Chile and the other into bolognase. If you are not to sure on making the sources for these by some home pride ones and tip them on. Bring to boil and leave to simmer. A green salad with garlic bread to cater for all tastes. If you have vegetarians coming make one of the dishes with quorn.

To save money on drinks I make a punch

half bottle orange squash
half bottle of lemon squash
bottle red wine
shot of spirit
lemonade put in just before people are due to arrive
put in sliced apple orange and banana (I usually pour the red wine into a bowl and put the fruit in to infuse early on in the day and then put the other things in just as people are due - everyone seems to love the alcoholic fruit)!

If you want desert, keep it simple - cheese cakes usually go down well especially with squirty cream.

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