easy canape ideas

[FrazzledFairyFay]

We are having a christmas drinks party and I need some really easy canape ideas - any ideas very welcome - particularly things that can be made in advance as I don't want to spend all night in the kitchen, nor do I want to make things in advance which then end up as a soggy mess (bitter experience)

We did this last year, and I totally agree that you don't want to spend any more time in the kitchen than you have to!

I'd suggest maybe those battered prawn things with the tail still on, bunged in the oven and then served with a chili dip or something. At least these don't need very delicate handling, and can be loaded onto the baking tray/plate relatively easily so you don't spend ages fiddling with them

What about homemade cheese straws - made up in advance then just flung in the oven for 10 mins?

For cold nibbles, maybe go for the classic smoked salmon on nice bread? Or small melon chunks wrapped in parma ham with a cocktail stick through them (my personal all time favourites)

roast peppers (Lidl's do big jars at a great price) cut into strips and rolled up with garlic and herb cream cheese and pinned with a cocktail stick.
Bacon cheesie roly polys - cheap white bread (thin rather than thick loaf), cheese spread (not philadelphia more the dairylea type stuff), streaky bacon. Cut the crusts off the bread, spread with cheese spread, cut into quarters. Cut streaky bacon rashers into thirds. Roll up square of bread and wrap a third of a rasher round it. Cook until bacon crispy. Best served warm but not essential.
Mushroom pate and/or meaty pate on little crackers, oatcakes or crostini scattered with chopped chives. Don't do these too far in advance but half an hour before guests arrive should be fine.

Use a jar of these Pappadew peppers.

Fill each one with cream cheese.

They can be eaten with fingers, prepared in advance and have a spicy kick to them.

Anything on crostini is easy. I think you can probably even buy packets of crostini type things but they are easy to make.

I did these fig, prosciutto and mint ones las year - very gorgeous and probably just took 10 minutes to assemble a whole batch of them. here

Blinis with smoked salmon are lovely.

thanks everyone, some fab ideas