easy/cheat party nibbles ideas/recipes

[MickeyMixer]

Hi I am new to Mum's net and I really need some help from you catering wonder women ....
I have got 20-25 Mums from school coming for drinks and nibbles next weekend. I really need some good quick impressive but easy canape ideas. If you know any tasty 'cheating' party nibble ideas I'd be really grateful.
I have never done a party like this before and I am starting to panic. All ideas gratefully received.

Puff pastry rolled out then sprinkled with gruyer and parmesan and very finely chopped rosemary. Fold the pastry over and roll the filling into the pastry. Repeat, cut up into whatever shapes you like and cook on a tray in a hot oven for a few mins til golden.

Mini jacket spuds using new potatoes then cut and fill with a dollop of sour cream and cchives.

Crudities - sound dull, but make your own dip and they are really lovely. Half mayo, half creme fraiche, salt, pepper and a small clove of crushed garlic.

Wrap prunes in streaky bacon and cook in the oven for a few mins til bacon is done. Yum.

Let me know if you want any more. Good luck!

Honeyed sausages go down well, just oven bake some cocktail sausages drizzled with a generous dollop of honey.

Chicken satay - marinade some bite size pieces of chicken in soy sauce/peanutbutter mix for a few hours, then put on skewers & oven bake/grill.

Cook and cool bought falafel, then skewer each one with a chunk of cucumber, small cube of feta and a cherry tomato. Serve with pots of houmous and tzatziki on the side.

tub of philiadelphia, empty into a bowl, cover over the top with sweet chilli sauce and serve with posh dippy type crisps.

om nom nom....

Wow - great ideas - thanks! You lot are really nice - don't know why I haven't joined Mumsnet before!

Does anyone know of any things that'll be Ok in the fridge if I make them in advance - my freezers totally full of beef from the local farmer!!

Little quiches.

You can make them up before (even freeze) and then stick the in the oven when you are ready.

aww.ninemsn.com.au/recipes/finger-food/

Very thinly sliced chorizo, could put on cocktail sticks around an olive.

Smoked salmon rolled round horseradish sauce - the non-sweet sort that dynarods your sinuses and makes your eyes water. Would work on squares of wholemeal bread using the sauce as a spread which would use less salmon.

A local restaurant uses small diamonds of puff pastry sprinkled with curry powder before cooking, which are quite nice with a drink.

How about cocktail sticks of mozzarella and tomatoes with a basil leaf in between? Always goes down well. Also don't forget the humble cheese board with bread and or crackers or maybe some salami etc. Having done a similar party for the neighbours last Xmas I'd advise against planning too many hot dishes as you just end up getting things in and out of oven.

Boursin appetisers (Mary Berry) - thinly slice a thin French baguette, butter slices on both sides, spread boursin on one side and put on baking tray, sprinkle over pinch of paprika and bake for 10min 200C. Very more-ish - looks like loads of effort but basically cheese and toast!

Cheese crispie biscuits/crackers (Sainsbo's do a good Taste the Diff one), small splodge of Branston Tomato and Pepper relish, top with thin slice of good cheddar or Wensleydale and sprinkle over ground cumin (best to buy ground stuff rather than grind your own in this instance).

To cheat with the quiche idea - buy one and get a really small pastry cutter and cut out the bits in the middle!

Make a Spanish tortilla and cut into small slabs.

Nice ready thin sliced granary, buttered or spread thinly with cream cheese, topped with thin slice of smoked salmon and cut into small squares or cut with your pastry cutter (if its sharp enough) - maybe cut bread with pastry cutter and then top with off cuts of salmon instead - sprinkle with fresh chives or dill.

Smoked salmon blini's are always yummy - you can buy the blini's altho' they're pretty easy to make and freeze.

A big piece of brie, left at room temperature for a few hours before the event, oatcakes and a big bunch of grapes?

Cut a thin French baguette into thin slices. Brush slices with olive oil mixed with a little garlic. bake at 200c for ten mins or so.

These make a wonderful base for all sorts of toppings:

Spread with wholegrain mustard, top with a little cooked slice of black pudding, and add a dollop of apple sauce from a jar.

Spread with bought pesto/tapenade and add sliced roast peppers from a jar.

Spread with softened goats cheese, top with caramelised onions (again from a jar) and a little sliver of Parma ham. These are also great without the ham.

Spread with Nigell's pea guacamole from How to Eat: cooked peas blitzed with butter, grated parmesan and roasted garlic (To roast, wrap in tin foil with a drop of olive oil, and bake in the oven when you've got it on to cook something else.

Spread with some good quality bought chicken liver pate, topped with a spoon of fig chutney (or other suitable chutney).

Good luck!

Nigella's obviously (sounds like some weird hybrid of Lawson and Slater )

Great ideas - thanks all - I am writing shopping lists now!