Tell me your Christmas Starter, cocktails and evening buffet ideas

[Nevernonono]

Probably been done to death!

But tell me anyway.

I’m catering for 12, so anything that can be made ahead would be even better.

I would like something a bit “special”

Thank you.

For buffet ideas, I’ve made homemade sausage rolls and cheese straws. I’ve assembled them, but not cooked them and popped them in the freezer. I’ll add an egg wash to both and a sprinkle of cheese on top of the cheese straws and cook them both from frozen.

I’m going to make these as they are amazing and so easy. I’ll make the filling a day or two in advance. I also roll the bread slices to make them a bit thinner - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/caramelised-mushroom-tartlets#commentsFeed

These are also a crowd pleaser and can be made a day in advance and popped in the oven on the day https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mini-croque-monsieurs

I’d keep the buffet simple, people will still be pretty stuffed. Maybe some cold meats, a few canapé type items, a cheese board and crackers. Maybe some nuts and crisps. A couple of dips, either made in advance or shop bought with the usual carrots, cucumber etc (you can cut these up in advance). Possibly a couple of good quality part baked baguettes to warm up and serve with the meat and cheese. If you something elaborate you could make some salads but they probably really aren’t needed as people are unlikely to want to eat loads.

If you want some less carb heavy canapés I found devilled eggs and also a tuna or mackerel pate on slices of cucumber go down well. Also these are lovely but you might struggle to buy ripe/flavoursome peaches at this time of year www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ham-peach-nibbles

Cocktail wise a French 75 is lovely and easy to upscale for a group. You can also do a festive version with cranberries. Also mulled cider or wine is nice at Christmas.

Thank you so much!! Wonderful ideas.

Merry Christmas 🎅

Oh yes!! Perfect! 🤩

I'd second the French 75 for cocktails - easy for a group and festive. You might also have a G&T / V&T option on hand (but make them singles!). If you have any non drinkers then seedlip do decent gin-ish subs. Sparkling elderflower for kids.

Gougeres - basically cheese profiteroles - I love with drinks before C'mas dinner. I have an old Clare McDonald recipe, but the Felicity Cloake one below will be good (they freeze amazingly well so you can do them in advance). You could just have those with olives and some salted and smoked nuts, but if you have a real crowd you could add crostini and older kids can help make them. If you want a proper sit down first course I'd go for a walnut and blue cheese salad w bitter leaves - but light on the walnuts and cheese, you need to leave space for roasties

For the evening we are very cheese board centric - sharp cheddar, a goats cheese, a Wilton and a milder Italian blue, plus charcuterie - salami and parma ham, plus olives, antipasti, some winter salad (buy it) for those that want it, celery. Humous and a butter bean (or something) dip if you have veggies. Little russet apples. Crackers various - Peters Yard sourdough, and some with seeds. Port and/or sherry is really nice to offer here.

I don't think you need to go anywhere near quiches etc - no one will have room and you will be exhausted. If you really think you need more then smoked salmon (or trout is cheaper) with lemon wedges and Irish wheaten bread. Obviously people can get cold Turkey etc if they want do, but we tend to do the cold cuts with fresh roasties and winter salad on Boxing Day.

For pudding, have some nice chocs and some tangerines. There will be cake and mince pies anyway.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/dec/18/how-make-perfect-gougeres-cheese-puffs-felicity-cloake-recipe

This is the easiest starter and can be prepped ahead https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/smoked-salmon-beetroot-vodka-creme-fraiche

And this Christmas Pie has always gone down well at buffets (goes nicely with an Asian carrot salad that could also be prepped in advance): https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/christmas-pie

This starter is special, visually stunning and so easy https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/salmon-beetroot-carpaccio.html

I am looking for a good strong cheese straw recipe using ready made puff pastry ( I have just found four blocks of the stuff in the freezer and need to use them up!). Can you share your recipe and if it’s not using ready-made puff pastry, perhaps someone else might oblige me with a good one? Thanks all.

Fig and cheese with beetroot and pickles sour cream shaped in a wreath with toasted French bread in the ring so can help themselves to a selection or smoked salmon maybe

The cheese straws I’ve made this year are using shortcrust pastry, I’ve made lovely ones using puff pastry before though.

One was tomato purée spread fairly thinly over a sheet of puff, finely grated Parmesan sprinkled liberally over the top. Another puff pastry sheet put on top, light egg wash on top then more Parmesan. Cut into thin strips, twist and bake. You can use other cheese like cheddar or gruyère.

Another one which is pretty similar to the last one, but using pesto and cream cheese instead of tomato purée - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/twisty-cheese-straws - I made these last year and they were very popular.

Some great ideas….. thank you

🎄

Thank you.

Over the years I have made lots of different buffet food for Christmas. The one thing that always gets demolished is a good old fashioned retro cheese and pineapple 'hedgehog'

Cut the bottom off a lettuce so that it sits nicely on a flat surface. Wrap with tin foil and add some cheap battery Christmas lights (the ones on a very tiny wire) Cut some cubes of nice hard cheese and some cubes of fresh pineapple, shove them on a stick and load up the lettuce. Add whatever other decorations you want as well - sprigs of holly etc. - to make it looks festive. You can also do the same thing with prosciutto and fig, parma ham and melon balls, there are lots of options. Dead easy and looks nice on the table!

love it!!

And brilliantly retro!

These cheese straws are lethally moreish and invariably vanish! They are often requested in this extended family. (Not pastry though). I usually make double the quantity.

200 g really good strong Cheddar, finely grated (don’t use ready grated)
100g SR flour
50g very soft butter
1/2 tsp English mustard powder
A pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix all together well, knead the dough. It will be crumbly so best to roll out in sections.
Roll out fairly thinly, mark into straws with a flat bladed knife. About 8 cm long by 1-1.5 wide is fine, but it’s not at all critical.

Space them a little apart on very well buttered baking sheets, bake at 200/180 fan for 7-8 minutes, but depending on your oven, 6 may be enough. These burn all too easily, so watch like a hawk. Bake until golden.

Cool on a wire rack, and if your dh is anything like mine, keep him well away!
A double quantity of these (which I’ll be making very soon) fits nicely into one of those M&S Christmas shortbread tins, the ones with a stag on the front.

I've posted these ideas many times, but here you go. That can all be made at least 1 day ahead, some more:

-https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/individual-smoked-salmon-terrines-for-christmas/ Can also me made as a larger, layered version as a general table dip on a buffet.
-These mini, filo quiche https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/ You can add basically any combo you like, fresh or semi dried tomato, almost any cheese, ham/bacon, smoke salmon, spring onions/red onions, tuna/sweetcorn, mushrooms, peppers etc. Or make whole quiche to cut and share.
-https://www.tamingtwins.com/smoked-mackerel-pate-recipe/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22435947246&gbraid=0AAAAA_Wg1tYBZUWRO99k6tvYIRgvcilaL&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgP_JBhD-ARIsANpEMxz_nbSthoBnWQ_CfGBYV1BGtyth-mAxPOs6IUo_ESOzobJAZ6F2Wn0aAjN8EALw_wcB
-https://simplehomeedit.com/recipe/cranberry-brie-bites/ these also work with pecans.
-https://www.recipetineats.com/devilled-eggs/ I personally prefer curried eggs, with the mustard/hot sauce being replaced with a curry powder.

Thank you! 🎄

Our starter depends on who's here. If it's just the 3 of us we have garlic and chilli prawns. Takes minutes , or if DD is here we also do a red pepper soup.

Or Christmas cocktail is a suckered punch, named by DS. Chocolate mint vodka, tia Maria or Kahlua, and baileys. It doesn't taste particularly strong but a couple will knock you out. Also a cosmo,possibly a bit more festive due to the cranberry juice

These are delicious to be served alongside a cheese board, or with cream cheese and smoked ham atop.

CHEESE BISCUITS

200g ish grated cheese… I used a mix of Parmesan, Stratford Blue and Cheddar but any cheese works.
200g Plain Flour
120g Butter
1 egg
Pinch salt
Big pinch of dried herbs…I used mixed Italian herbs
Big pinch of Smoked Paprika or you could use Cayenne.
Whizz all together into a dough.
Roll into a log in baking paper and chill.
Thinly slice into biscuits and bake at 180 degrees for 10 ish minutes under slightly golden. Put on wire rack to cool.
Enjoy xx