I've used this formula for feeding a party or group invited to our home for various occasions.
2 - 9x13 casseroles (same or different)
Or in place of one of the casseroles a baked ham or roast
5 lbs. of potatoes turned into a potato salad (used 6-8 eggs in this)
2 lbs. of assorted cold cuts or sliced ham (optional)
Tossed salad made with 1 head of lettuce, plus a bit of fancy lettuce,
1 cucumber and 3 tomatoes
1 additional SMALL salad (optional) eg. carrot, bean, jellied, coleslaw
1 1/2 dox. rolls or 1 large loaf sliced garlic bread
2 or 3 Fancy desserts (I usually have 3) one decadent, one chocolate
and sometimes one low cal or fruit based.
I think I would use a Caesar salad in place of the tossed salad next
time, using 2 heads of romain.
People perfer to eat things that are EASY to eat and don't require
a knife when eating buffet style.
This will feed 20 people with left overs.