Bring and Share "headache"

[janw]

I've been asked to attend our coffee morning's bring and share Christmas lunch, to end the year. How do you manage to do this kind of thing? Yes, I can try and find things I can eat to take, but sharing in what others bring is going to be really hit or miss. There are a few other T2s who go, but they are on meds plus one is vegan. My mind is blank and I'm starting to feel I will either just go at the start, but make my excuses to leave before the food comes out, or chicken out completely. Unfortunately I already have other food restrictions on top of the diabetic no-no foods Is it worth the hassle??? We are going to the carvery for Christmas lunch the previous week, that I can deal with easily.
How do others, especially T2s, cope with this situation?

 

[Docb]

You could try and do the old politicians trick of "working the room". The idea is that you move around, joining in with conversations here and there, meeting old friends, catching up with gossip or whatever. What you do is get a small plate and take it with you as you roam only adding to it when there is room on it and you see something you want to eat. If done well and with a bit of aplomb you can eat on your own terms and nobody will know the difference.

Also, you never know, by wandering about you might meet some interesting people.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

What sort of thing do you class as diabetic no-no food?

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Take food that you can eat and others can share. You don’t need to cater to everyone. So take cold meats or a cheese platter, whatever you would usually have and some salad or something so you know there will be something you can eat.

 

[janw]

@travellor it is just high carb basically that I try to avoid. As we are all friends (to some degree) who meet weekly, I know some will bring things like sausage rolls, cakes, mince pies, sandwiches, maybe rice and/or pasts dishes, crisps - the normal party fare snacks kind of thing full of carbs and sugar. There are not that many of us, maybe 14 or so on a good day, so the choice will be limited. I'm going to have a chat with my friend who runs it, see what she suggests.

 

[rebrascora]

You could make some keto muffins or chaffles and/or a frittata and sausages and cheese and meats and salad and coleslaw etc.
I imagine the vegan will have a similar issue. You wouldn't expect people to cater for you, nor would the vegan, but take food which will suit your needs and eat mostly that but perhaps try the odd item from other people's contributions.

 

[janw]

You could make some keto muffins or chaffles and/or a frittata and sausages and cheese and meats and salad and coleslaw etc.
I imagine the vegan will have a similar issue. You wouldn't expect people to cater for you, nor would the vegan, but take food which will suit your needs and eat mostly that but perhaps try the odd item from other people's contributions.

Yes I was thinking of cheese and meats and coleslaw, but the frittata is a good idea, I used to make various quiches for events, so it wouldn't be that dissimilar - actually it will be easier as my wrists struggle with pastry making these days lol I don't have a waffle/chaffle maker, so will rule that one out. Thank you, much appreciated

 

[Leadinglights]

If you just make sure you take a selection of things you can and like to eat and make sure you have put some on your plate first. After all nobody is going to put food on your plate. When we had those sort of dos there were people who didn't eat this or that for all sorts of reasons and nobody batted an eye at somebody refusing something offered.
Enjoy the occasion.

 

[rebrascora]

I think you can use the same mixture as chaffles with bacon/tomatoes/spinach etc to make little savoury muffins instead of waffles if you wanted to experiment with that option. I think @Pattidevans may have a basic recipe and suggestions for more exotic flavour variations, which might make them seem more special but the pastryless quiche/frittata
sounds like a reasonable option for you. Must confess, I don't miss making pastry. Maybe make some little one bite low carb cup cakes too or you could use the low carb chocolate sponge to make rum truffles.... I am just spouting off ideas now rather than tried and tested options but with a little experimentation I am sure they would be doable.... in fact having suggested it, I may now have to do some playing in the kitchen myself. You could maybe include milled linseeds instead of biscuit crumb and melted dark chocolate and maybe include a rum soaked raisin in the centre of each one....

 

[Lucyr]

Just take something you can eat, and put some on your plate before putting it out to share

 

[janw]

I had to rule out the frittata when I remembered I no longer have a car to transport food in!!! Duh! A nice glass quiche dish balanced on my lap whilst I'm playing Stirling Moss on my mobility scooter, just won't work! rofl So I think it might be egg muffin type of food, things I can pop in containers, into a shopping bag, and keep that between my feet - and I'll soften up my cornering - ha ha.

 

[rebrascora]

No real reason why you can't make a frittata and cut it up into portions and place in a container and then rearrange it on a plate when you get there, but I can understand that transport logistics and presentation need to be considered.

 

[AndBreathe]

How about picking up a big pack of chicken drummers (or wings) in Lidl (or wherever) and season and roast them. You could so some cocktail sized pigs in blankets. Maybe old-school cheese hedgehog (forget the pineable). If only cheese doesn't appeal, add silverskin cocktail onions. "Stuff" celery with Phili or pate.

Chorizo crisps are fun, and VERY moreish, done in the microwave. Rollitos; cheese wrapped in Parma ham, or salami.

There are LOTS of things, depending how much effort you want to put in and where your budget sits.

Enjoy!