No cook canapé ideas!

[MiddleClassProblem]

Hi all,

I have a dinner party in two weeks for my friend’s birthday. The oven and hob will be taken up all day with food for the dinner party but I would like to also serve some canapes for drinks and arrival about an hour or so before dinner. It’s for 22 people (hence all cooking equipment taken).

I only need a couple of ideas. Ideally not on sticks as there will be two dogs on the loose and low tables people might discard sticks on do worry about them getting hold of the sticks (friends dog/house etc).

Other than some kind of smoked salmon on something type canape, my brain is fried.

Please help!

Can marinade the night before as staying at her house.

Bruschetta with tapenade or pate
Tortilla roll-ups

I know you said, other than smoked salmon on something, but… 😂

I make this smoked salmon and horseradish pate every Christmas. (I know it says smoked trout, but ignore that, I make it with hot smoked salmon). Served on little melba toasts or similar. The recipe says mini Yorkshire puds, which you can do if you want, but I never have.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish/baby-yorkshire-puds-creamy-smoked-trout-horseradish-pate/

It’s truly delicious. I make it every year for Christmas ‘elevenes’ before we go for a walk and then get on with lunch prep. It gets devoured. Seriously, if I don’t make it, there is a lot of disappointment.

Stuffed dates

Mackerel pate on mini bruschetta toasts (crostini ones work well) top with tiny sprig of dill

Crudités

Rounds of cucumber with tuna mayo on top

I think there are stuffed dates with Roquefort on the cheese board annoyingly

Squares of pumpernickel with cream cheese and chopped gherkins.

No cook on the day:

Blini with salmon
Mini-Yorkshires with beef and horseradish mayo
Bruschetta

I might need some low/no carb options. One person is GF but I could swap the bottom for cucumber or something?

I sometimes roll up a small strip of blue cheese and rocket in some bresaola.

Tomato and tarnade canapés. You could buy wee crackers rather than make them.

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/tomato-olive-canape-recipe

Small piece of fig and mild goats cheese wrapped in a bundle with Parma ham.

There's a cheese board. As a low carb person, i would just eat all the cheese! And bring meats as well!

The cheeseboard is after the meal. I just need some pre meal ones. Can’t leave her out!

Pre- and post-cheese.

Also post ham rolled up around cream cheese.

Posh

It sounds like you’re serving a big 3-4 course meal? You just need a few bits to keep people going while they drink and chat, don’t over think it. Olives, nuts, a few kinds of breadsticks and a few dips. Make some good cheese straws? So easy. You want people to be hungry for dinner.

Also go you, I’d love to do a dinner party for 22!

Parma ham wrapped around chunks of melon
old-school chicken liver pate on ritz crackers or Melba toasts
Cherry tomatoes halved sandwiching a mini mozzarella ball (smear of pesto as glue to stick together)
chipolata sausages cooked earlier in the day with maple mustard glaze
sushi from supermarket (sashimi for low carber)
devilled eggs
quails eggs with celery salt to dip
hummus & crudités
charcuterie platter, olives, spiced mixed nuts

Almost all of my list is/could be GF, except the Melba toast & crackers. If GF is for a coeliac, please keep things separate and give them an individual portion of dip to prevent cross contamination

Don’t worry not coeliac, just intolerant/felt better since going GF

Thank you so much!

I love watermelon, feta and mint but it is on sticks- wonder if you could use something else. It’s so fresh and light I love it

Maybe I could dice it on a lettuce leaf? Not sure if it’s too summery? Might be over thinking it

These gf mini bread sticks are nice, unlike many gf products! https://share.google/hLaCbC6a5k9k7tTub

I think more because of lack of surface space I’m thinking things on serving dishes brought round rather than help yourself. There are two terms there one will be there and helping with drinks/food.
It’s an open dinning room/sitting room with a separate kitchen. The dining table will be laid for dinner (just 2 courses - main and dessert which will be cake plus another option and cheeseboard) but there’s no other big table at their house just small side tables which will probably have glasses on them.
I could put some bowls of olives and crisps dotted about but they would all be dog height and these two dogs would defo chance it lol.