I would go to the Cajun party myself but an alternative suggestion that requires maybe a little less work would be an Itallian Christmas.
Make a big pot of spaghetti sauce. Use part of it to make a big pan of lasagnia using no cook noodles, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Parmesan and Provolone cheese. Mix a couple eggs, fresh parsley and red pepper flakes in with the Ricotta and layer some spinach and or some sliced eggplant between one layer. The sauce can be a plain tomato sauce, meat sauce or include mushrooms and or olives.
The spaghetti course could include meatballs made with beef and pork combined with some Pignole (pine nuts). Be sure to have some grated Parmesan cheese for the spaghetti.
Make a big salad using what looks good at the store, make fresh garlic toast spreading each slice with a mix of olive oil and butter, top with thin sliced garlic and fresh parsley. You could also sprinkle some cheese on the toast.
You have to have a nice large antipasto tray with at least 3 or 4 cheeses, roll up some italian lunch meat that has been thin sliced (prosciutto, capicola, italian roast beef, mortadella or other sausages), 2 or 3 kinds of olives, roasted red peppers in oil, marinated mushrooms and artichokes, Pepperoncini and sliced boiled eggs (make square eggs). Make or buy some Caponata (Eggplant Relish)Put all this on a bed of romaine, endive or raddicio which the guests can also indulge in. I would scatter a container or two of grape tomatoes through the tray. Have a bread basket of thin slices of breads handy and lots of toothpicks.
The Antipasto tray should be the star of the show. Roll the meats up and arrange things to please the eye. Use your largest platter or use a large cookie sheet or sheet pan covered in colored foil. Decorate the edges with curley parsley which is also good to freshen the breath.
Toss the spaghetti with the sauce and have in a large serving bowl, cut the lasagnia into 4X4 inch squares.
As you can see you can make the sauce and lasagnia ahead of time. On the day of the party, make the Antipasto tray, heat the spaghetti sauce, make garlic toast, pop the lasagnia in the oven and cook a pot of spaghetti.
So easy even a caveman can do it.
