Suggestions for things to eat with pre-lunch drinks (Champagne)

[Caroline1852]

We are having lunch for about 20 people and I am dispensing with the starter so that people can mingle for a bit longer with their drinks (better for the children involved not to have to sit up at the table for too long). Can anyone please suggest some nice things to hand round with the drinks?

how about cherry tomatoes with the insides scooped out then replaced with some piped cream cheese.

small cracker (like ritz) with piped pate?

bloody mary chery toms and boiled quails eggs with dipping pepper - can post recipes if you like - both are in Delia how to cook 3. As both are prepared ahead are evry easy to serve.

PAndaG - Yes please to the recipes - sounds nice.

Home made (therefore yummy) cheese straws? Kids should like those

DeliaOnline has a selection of canapes recipes.

BBC canapes

I second PandaG, I have served those, a really easy canape is Figs (dried) wrapped with parma ham.
Also doing your own hummus or dip is easy and then you just need to cut up some veg and buy some good quality crips. Kids love them. Whatabout buying really small pastry tart cases and then filling them with crab mixture or cheesy leek.
Chillied king prawns maybe?

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Hulabbaby - thanks for those links.

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blinis with cream cheese and smoked salmon

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icod - overrun - thank you both. Love those ideas.

Overrun - where do you buy your dried figs?

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My faves are

Cherry tomatoes (if I am going posh I get yellow nd red ones) buffalo mozzarella and basil (my 8 year old likes making these)

Cut toms in half them load a cocktail stick one 1/2 tomato, leaf of basil wrapped around chunk of cheese, other 1/2 tomato. On a platter drizzled with balsamic vinegar and black pepper. Looks fab, dead easy.

I also get philidelphia and mix it with fresh pesto, or sun dried tomato paste. Buy little brushettas (M&S or whatever) plop a tsp of chesse on a biscuit (sod piping looks too 'done') and if wanted top witha sliver of tomato or whever.

Quails eggs mmmmmm

Good quality tzatiki (TOTAL) mini popadoms, king prawns. Simple assembly job of popadom, tzatzki, prawn. Onto platter, sprinkle with chopped flat leaf parsley and black pepper - this one is a last min jobby and popadoms do go soggy after 30mins

Smoked salmon on brown bread with wedges of lemon

How old are your kids, mine love making 'little' food.

I have a load of red platters (actually christmas 'chargers' meant to go under plates but they were cheap and look great.

bloody mary tomatoes: prepare 2 days before
250g baby plum (or cherry)toms
200ml vodka
1 tbspn sherry
1 tbspn worcestershire sauce
few drops tabasco
1/2 tsp celery salt

to serve:
1 tsp celery salt, 1/4 tsp cayene pepper, 2 tsp sea salt, mixed together

score a litttle cross on base of tomatoes, pack into a lidded plastic box cross side up. whisk other ingredients together and spoon over tomatoes. Marinade in fridge for 2 days.

drain off liquid (can keep for another batch), bring toms back up to room temp. serve with salt mix for dipping. amazing kick and very easy!

Quails' eggs

put egs into boiling water, bring back ot boil and boil eggs for 1 min 45 secs. run cold water over to stop cooking, and peel while they are still a bit warm. serve with 1 tbspn mixed peppercorns (crushed) and 1 tbspn sea salt mixed together for dipping per 2 doz eggs. they are slightly soft in the middle and really fabby

You can get them in most supermarkets near where you would get other dried fruit like raisens often near cake baking area

You could do a spanish platter of manchego cheese and sliced chorizo with some lovely olives, that always goes down well.

Hope your guests enjoy your efforts

Overrun - thanks - my local Waitrose have them. I am def making them and also Cod's paprika and cheese pastry things.

the reciple is prob ont he gh site