Light - preferably fruit./veg based - canapes for Christmas Day please

[lilolilbethlehem]

Don't normally do a starter on Christmas Day due to massive main course followed by Christmas Pud. However, entertaining special friends this year so want to offer something with the champers. They will only be arriving an hour or so before eating main course so don't want anything too heavy. Got as far as melon cubes wrapped in parma ham.
then most of my other regular canapes seem too heavy (blinis) or rich (cream cheese/sour cream based). Got smoked salmon - would it go with pineapple? Or grapes? (seafood and beef out by the way)

no to smoked salmon with fruit

Asparagus spears wrapped in parma ham?

or just plain asparagus spears?

Smoked salmon on mini oatcakes?

Do they need to be finger-food type affairs to be eaten away from the table, or more of a starter?

finger food preferably, to be served with drinks before sitting down. Have already got parma ham (with melon - or even with asparagus) so wouldn't use twice. Usually do smoked salmon with cream cheese or sour cream and blinis, but think these are a bit rich before Christmas lunch? Or not? Would also normally do king prawns or similar but one guest has seafood allergy so would rather avoid altogether.

P.S. my gut feel also is "no" to smoked salmon with fruit, was just being optimistic!

bruschetta?
could do any number of toppings. my favourites are mozzarella and anchovy, parma ham and parmesan shavings, or tomato, olive and basil.

Thanks Paddington. Bruschetta are what I would normally serve, but was worried that the bread bases would be too filling,hence looking for fruit/veg based. But perhaps could do bruschetta and just serve less?

just do the melon balls/asparagus in parma ham, no need to have choice.

if you can get ciabatta rolls and slice them up you can make dinky little canape-size bruschetta. I'm doing this as I haven't enough plates for all my guests to have a knife and fork starter .

or just very thin bruscetta (think melba toast here) and just one per person.

You don't want them filling up before the main meal.

good thinking OMDB. Or perhaps I actually just do a parma ham and melon starter sat at the table - perhaps with some thinly sliced ciabatta toasts (thanks Paddington). Possible with some figs. Have a question abotu figs - will post separately so title more meaningful

lol at question re figs!

I like the fig idea actually. I would scrap the melon &parma ham (so 70s) and go instead for a fig, parma ham and feta cheese starter, with a warm honey and butter dressing

have a look at the Passionate Cook. the feta, melon and olive skewers are glorious. as are these mushroom thingies. lots more to choose from.

thanks hatwoman, will take a look.

mm I will try those feta sticks, hat.

oooh yes, they look devine

I don't like olives...and I loved those skewers. a friend of mine said the same...we were both totally amazed.

that website is great. it's quite readable for a bloggy type thing

I loves olives. And feta and melomn. And I don't care if my family doesn't

my personal favourite