Christmas Eve buffet

[iloveholidays]

Help needed... last year we bought a load of party food from tesco which was okay but nothing special. We're at home for Christmas Day this year so don't want to go mad on Christmas Eve but would quite like to do a coldish buffet late afternoon that DP and I can continue to pick at during the evening.

So, so far I have...

Ham
Nice bread
Cheese
Salad
Smoked salmon (leave some for Christmas breakfast)
Sausage rolls/mini sausages (DDs love them)
Dips

Any other ideas? I don't want to have to do much cooking as will be prepping veg etc for Christmas Day.

TIA

Course not, the more the merrier :)

I don't get anything out of DP, he's just been taking the kick of me saying I'm planning a ham sandwich for Christmas Eve!!!

Taking the mick even!!!!!!!

I always go for picky bits from m&s on christmas eve. As well as the list you've got, how about adding some m&s canapes? They do gorgeous pork belly squares in bbq sauce, mini kievs, mini cheeseburgers etc... Brilliant quality and special enough for christmas eve. They're really easy as you just stick them in the oven.

sorry, just been catching up on Facebook

I will probably put out veg sticks, breadsticks and maybe tortilla crisps.

like prawn idea, DP would love that.

Don't worry, I have 3 DDs 4 and under so trying to keep it simple but nice!!! will be buying sausage rolls

not sure about cheeses, might just get a selection pack to be honest.

sweet things.... no idea. doing profiteroles for Christmas day. yum yum

will be looking at m&s, just not sure I want the m&s pricetag

Have a look at Sainsburys, Aldi & Lidl for buffet food without the M&S price tag.

Get the Christmas food ordering brochures from m&s and waitrose. Both have lots of ideas for tasty canapes, nibbles, salads, puddings etc.

Lift any ideas you can copy easily. Use some to kick start other ideas you can tweak and adapt. Even if it's just things about presentation- so buy a packet or two of the tiny mini rolls to put the mini sausages in and to make your sandwiches on your plate with - they look cute and fun and different from every day food. (ok so if you or your husband like lots of bread you might need to have a couple of big ones or a nice loaf to attack too but will look and be different for your dc.

They have those Swedish canapé cases in lots of supermarkets for a couple of pounds. Get and then make your own canapes - they don't need to be uber fancy. Are your dc old enough to help - could be a fun thing for them to do. Eg get a slice or two of nice roast beef or salt beef from the supermarket deli, cut up and pop in a case with some horseradish sauce. Ham and pickle. Smoked salmon and cream cheese. Parma ham and fig or melon. That squeezy cream cheese in a tube and some red pepper. Or use chicory or mini gem lettuce leaves to put some filling in. See what is nice on the deli counter - you'll just need a slice each of 3 or 4 different things as they will get cut up.

Or go for a theme - say 70s from your prawn cocktail inspiration. Then same sort of stuff as listed for your mains but include those hard boiled eggs where you cut in half, scoop out the yolks and mash with Mayo then plonk pipe prettily back into the yolk hole and sprinkle with a tiny bit of paprika and serve with Mayo or salad cream (for added authenticity!). A cheese and pineapple hedgehog. Etc.
Then for pudding do a black forest gateau, a vienetta and some fruit kebabs (could the dc help assemble these?) with chunks of favourite fruits and grapes etc. You could also add a couple of mini marshmallows into the mix as a treat, and or make a chocolate dipping sauce (easiest and best choc sauce ever - large 200g bar of dark choc like bournville. Doesn't need to be uber expensive dark choc. Break into bits in a bowl, add a small knob of butter the size of a walnut and a couple of spoons of honey and melt gently. Let it cool a little then Add a small carton of double cream to it - add a little at a time to start with so the cold cream doesn't make the hot choc mix solidify on contact. Taste and add more honey/cream etc as necessary. Reheat when needed. Will last a week in the fridge. Cold you can use the solid mixture as a truffle filling --or just to eat from the fridge when you go past to check it is still ok as its very scrummy. Chef's perks

Warm winter salad? My fave is roasted sweet potato (cut into bite size chunks) mushroom, cherry tomato and feta cheese on a bed of mixed leaves. I like it with balsamic dressing.

Mini sausages cooked in hoisin sauce and sesame seeds are delicious and sticky. Very moreish.

Bloody hell i'm salivating cartoad I am MOST jealous impressed with your planning!!!

We would include:
a potato salad - steamed potatoes , cooled add mayonnaise and sour cream dip.

baked camenbert with breadsticks

a nice soup with French bread

crisps (Kettle Chips, Totillas)

For sweet things-
chocolate
tiny chocolate crispies
a cheesecake

oooh baked camenbert sounds lovely