No-fuss Christmas party food and canapés
Impress your guests this Christmas - without tearing your hair out over timings. Mumsnetters share their top festive food tips
1. There's nothing wrong with simplicity
"Baked Camembert with bread sticks - looks fab and is very easy!"
2. A cocktail stick can make all the difference
"The best canapé I've ever made: cocktail stick + cherry tomato + tiny ball of mozzarella + leaf of basil."
3. Oatcakes = instant rustic charm
"Herby prawns on top of smoked salmon pate, on an oatcake, are easy and
delicious."
4. Never underestimate the power of veg
"I make a delicious feta cucumber canapé: scoop out
the innards of a cucumber sliced lengthways, then fill the groove
with a feta, ricotta, garlic and dill mix. Cut up small and serve on a
platter."
5. Pick a theme and run with it
"I often do canapés with a cheese, a veg/fruit and a carb - eg Stilton, pear and walnut on rye, or mozzarella, chilli and basil on crostini, or goats cheese and sunblush tomato on crispbreads. Maximum flavour, no cooking on the night, minimum fuss."
6. Play to your strengths
"I am not a natural cook. I do, however, make a mean leaf, ciabatta and red
wine vinegar salad with mozzarella."
7. Pre-planning is your best friend
"Eton Mess is a really quick and easy dish. I also make loads of fairy
cakes and freeze them in batches. Then I take as many as we need out for each
day and decorate them using stars, edible glitter etc."
8. Don't be afraid to go retro
"I always serve a couple of old fashioned 'hedgehogs' - half an orange
studded with cocktail sticks with cubes of cheddar, chunks of pineapple and a
pickled onion. It makes everyone laugh and feel like they have been transported
to the 1970s (but there's never any left at the end!)"
"I make a trifle just like we used to eat in the '80s. No fiddling about: sponge fingers in the bottom of a bowl, one or two tins of fruit cocktail on top, a set jelly spooned on top of that, then custard out of a tin, whipped cream, and grated chocolate, or sweets, or banana slices. Is it posh? No. Is it incredibly easy? Yes."
9. Add a final flourish - and take all the credit
"Decant tubs of dips into ramekins and add chopped chives or parsley on top to pass off as homemade."
"I buy plain things, and add to them to make them my own. Cheesecake
with your own topping, cake covered in your own decorations, or even just
sprinkling a plate of mince pies with icing sugar or edible glitter, looks like
you've made more of an effort than just packet to plate."
10. Leftovers? That's what families are for
"I make individual Yorkshire puddings in a muffin tray two weeks before and
freeze the best looking ones for Christmas Day. The ugly ones are fed to the
family with sausages and gravy for everyday evening meals!"
And check out our tutorial video on easy festive nibbles, with Michelin-starred chef Kevin Love and Mumsnet blogger Heledd, for more inspiration!
Liked this? Try these:
12 festive drinks |
Edible Christmas gifts |
Stress-free Christmas dinner |
Last updated: 2 minutes ago