Food/recipe ideas for Christmas party on a budget?

[thatsnotmymonster]

We are having a smallish Christmas party on Monday evening. Probably be about 10 adults and a handful of children.

We said it would be drinks and nibbles.

So far my ideas are

Hot Christmas punch (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
Maybe hot chocolate with cream

Home made gingerbread men
Home made mince pies
Satsumas

I need some savoury ideas but was hoping to keep it simple and really Christmassy.

Sausage rolls, just buy the puff pastry and sausagemeat. Take the rest of the puff pastry cut into approx inch and a half squares put a blob of tom puree or pesto or cream cheese in the middle half a cherry tomato and sprinkle with parmasan, bake until about puffy and golden.
Is that the sort of thing you were looknig for??

Message deleted

Chippolatas? You can buy them in bulk and baked in a tight dish slowly they'll caramalise beautifully?

I think goats cheese tarts cut into bite size pieces is good too - roll and cut out your puff pastry, score about one cm around the edges, then spread red pesto inside the scored bit, put a layer of goats cheese mixed with your favourite herbs (I like dill and chives), layer on slices of tomatoes, pour over some olive oil and cook for about 20 minutes. Delicious, easy and cheap because one small tub of goats cheese will go a surprisingly long way.

I like the puff pastry ideas- probably won't do sausage rolls but will do the cheese/cherry tomato and goat's cheese tart.

For the tart, I'm assuming it's open and you cut it up after it has cooked?

Yum.

Shortbread is good but I'm already making biscuits.

Any more?

Yup, open and cut up. I've tried making them bite size, but they don't cook as well. So I tend to do square ones that are about 5 - 6 inches square. [or for a dinner party, round individual ones).

Another cheesy one, but not specifically christmassy is mozzarella wrapped in bacon/marinated peppers/ grilled courgettes with a touch of pesto and popped in the oven for about 5 - 10 minutes. Depending on what you're using. Delicious. (use a toothpick to hold them together).

Cheese straws.

Sausgage rolls are Christmas!

Mini baked potatoes
Cheese (and onion) scones/muffins

potato skins with cheese and bacon bits?
puff pastry square with red onions and parmesan.
salami/olives wrapped up?

Good old fashioned sandwiches!

Cheese and crackers
pate (make your own mackerel pate) serve with
cornichons

Ritz biscuits with a bit of pate or cream cheese topped with a slice of cucumber, cheap and looks effective on plates.

Vol-au-vent, just get the frozen pastry then fill with whatever you like. Prawns and white sauce tastes great and they will make platefuls.