COCKTAIL SNACKS & BUFFETS

At last....Happy New Year!

MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION HAS APPEARED ELSEWHERE

We're heading into the home stretch as far as entertaining goes.  Just New Year's Eve and Day, the occasional buffet here and there...and it's into abstemious January.  

For the moment, the focus in most households is on easy prep, make-ahead, using up leftovers...oh, and, really delicious and appetising offerings which everyone will enjoy in the final days of the holiday.

If you're actually producing a meal before or  on New Years Day, keep it light.  One or two slices of a meaty main course accompanied by lots of salads: raw and cooked vegetables, punchy dressings preferably low in fat, a choice of several different types of money-saving potato salads.  Lots of rolls and bread, lots of cheeses and cold cuts, lots of pickles, chutneys, spreads.  And a few last-festive-meal spectacular creamy desserts plus plenty of fruity offerings.  

Whatever you do, spread the burden.  Get the family involved in prep - especially the kids - or arrange a pot-luck knees up.  

But enjoy the last few days before heading back to the usual routine.

Happy New Year!

NEW FROM 2020

Sausage, Onion & Dijon-Maple Mini Yorkshires: vegetarians & carnivores

Double Salmon Pate on Cucumber Slices: brilliant combo of creamy & crunchy

Levant Lamb Mini-Skewers & Tahini Mint Dip: British lamb but not as we know it

SIMPLE EASY STARTERS

• Sensational Cheese Straws: leftover cheese elevated to luxury treat
  
  
  

• Parmesan Crisps.  Drop tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper or a silicone mat, leaving a bit of room between; level with clean fingers; bake at 180c/350f 7-10 mins. Leave for a minute then carefully lift with a metal fish slice big enough to hold the crisp; transfer to cooling rack.  Broken ones will be fine but not crumbs. 

• Cucumber & spiced sausage.  Slice cucumber 1/4in/1/2 cm thick; top with similar-sized slices of good salami or Polish sausage like kielbasa.  Scone cutters will make evenly shaped sausage slices.

• Crostini (French Bread Crispbreads): easy-peasy, frugal, VEGAN. Thinly slice French bread (1/4in/1cm); lightly spray with olive oil both sides; salt lightly; bake at 180c/350f  7-10 mins or until lightly golden, turning once.  (Watch they don't burn).  Cool on a wire rack.  They are a  good vehicle for cheese or smoked salmon on a slice of lettuce (anchor both with a dab of mayo) or pate or vegetarian dips.  Assemble at last minute to retain crispness.

• Parma ham Sticks. Roll parma or serrano ham round breadsticks or thin mango wedges or drained peach slices. 

• Date & Walnut Yummies.  VEGAN opt.   Fresh Medjool dates are at their best at this time of year; slit tops, fill with cream cheese & garnish with (a) a generous dab of set honey or (b) a walnut half or (c) coarsely chopped walnuts

• Baby tomato & mozzarella balls.  VEGAN. Alternate baby tomatoes & small mozzarella balls on cocktail sticks.  Serve with pesto our balsamic dribble  

• Stuffed New Potatoes.  VEGAN opt.  Vertically halve new potatoes which have been cooked until slightly underdone; a sharp knife inserted into the centre should meet a little resistance; they will keep cooking after being drained. Take a thin slice off the bottoms to keep them upright.  Use a melon baller or sharp knife to make a depression in the top, fill with sour cream or thick yoghurt; sprinkle with (a) chives or (b) strips of offcuts of smoked salmon or (c) whatever you fancy

EASY PEASY

Avocado & Ham Devilled Eggs,Vegetarian opt: quirkily yummy with delicate heat and a sublime salty sweetness that's just 'Wow'

Devilled Tuna gourmet open faced sandwiches: creamy mashed tuna & cooked egg yolk with celery, spring onions & radish plus tabasco/chilli & mustard accents; serve on good thick sliced bread, cut into circles (with a scone cutter) or quarters.  Frugal, low-fat.

Easy-peasy Dill Pickles, lower sugar, prep 3 days ahead: Hard to beat - 'Wow!  I love these. Very refreshing.' 'Better than I expected.' Tasters

FRUGAL & FAST 

Kids' Delight Glazed Wings: lower fat kid-bait; crispy, smokey, sweet and more-ish.

Braised Oriental Wings: Sophisticated low-fat, low-sugar, low-salt. 'Great Chinese flavour with lovely amount of garlic!' Taster

Almost Instant Beetroot Chive Humous

CARNIVORES' DELIGHTS

Beef Skewers with Hoisin & Orange, crowd-pleasing  

'Oh my goodness; these are wonderful - full of umami flavour.' Tasters

Spanish Pinchitos: popular Arab inspired Spanish tapas, boldly flavoured & tender meat cubes, marinated a day ahead 

Chicken Koftas with an Asian twist: exotic meaty mini-koftas delights crowds  

VEGAN

Unfried Crispy Chinese Dumplings: carnivore pleaser 'Crispy without being greasy' 'Unbelievable diet version' 'Amazing with the sweet chilli sauce' Taster

Spiced Potato Cigarillos with Coriander Sauce

These seriously spicy Indian Style 'chip butties' are lent sophistication with a to-die-for coriander sauce.  Great use of mashed potato leftovers.  

Thai Larb/mince in lettuce cups: carnivores' option: a die-hard carnivore and Thai food fan tested this dish without knowing it was vegan and loved it! Fast & easy.

Quick & easy simple pickled vegetables

Sweet & Savoury Tomato Jam: sensational with cheeses & cucumber (and for carnivores, cold meats).  No need for brown pickle with this one!

POPULAR BLASTS FROM THE PASTS

Exquisite Cream Crackers: low-salt, for cheeses or soups; easy 

Crunchy 'Chicken' Gougons: VEGAN, kid/ults love them, easy, prep ahead, optional boozy sauce

Creamy Mushroom & Sherry Soup: low-dairy, silky smooth, no cream or potatoes

Skinnier sausages with honey(or maple syrup) & mustard: does anyone need to know more?

HEALTHIER, SKINNIER BAR-TYPE SNACKS 

• NUTS.  Make your own.  Roast raw nuts lightly sprayed with olive oil in a 180C/350F/gas 4 preheated oven OR air fryer.  Bake no more than 5 mins and check before time is up.  Salt lightly; add finely minced fresh, or dried, rosemary or smoked paprika. 

• PACKAGED NUTS  Shake them in a strainer to remove excess salt and/or rub with a paper napkin to reduce oil.     

• CRISPS  Try low-salt, fat-reduced lentil and chickpea based crisps which may not convince your kids but, with a creamy low-fat dip, makes a reasonable substitute.  Crisps fried in olive oil from Spain may be healthier and absolutely scrummy but come at a premium (Waitrose).  Many think they are worth it.

• OR TRY:  ROASTED SPICED CHICKPEAS: meets a craving for a crunchy, savoury low-salt snack without preservatives.  Try adding the Middle Eastern lemony spice, sumac, currently in supermarkets

• CHIPS.  Crispy sweet potato wedges are as good as fries with more food value.  Cut 3 sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, then each half into three long wedges.  Place in a bowl and pour over a scant tablespoon of olive oil.  Toss.  Bake on a tray lined with greaseproof paper for 45 minutes to an hour until crisp and brown, turning once halfway through.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and a 1/2 tablespoon of cajun seasoning or 67's Savoury Spice Mix.   Also try Garlic Wedges

• SPARE RIBS. To reduce fat, drop ribs into boiling water with two onions and a couple of cloves of garlic (before roasting and basting with sauce).  Boil 5 mins; reduce heat to medium and simmer 30 -45 minutes or until tender.  Proceed with roasting and basting as normal.

• SAUSAGES.  Pierce with a fork several times.  Drop into boiling water; turn off heat and leave at least 10 minutes.  Bake on a roasting tray on a rack so sausages do not sit in their own fat. To make up for the slightly drier texture, serve with no-sugar relish.

• BURGERS & HOT DOGS.  Try Veggie Burgers (very popular at a French bank). See also Burgers Don't Need to be Unhealthy.   For vegetarian dogs, try  quorn and middle Eastern versions (especially Tivali from Health Food Shops.) Check before you buy; some brands are quite bready. 

• BUFFALO WINGS - Bake them naked first, then brush with sauce.  

• NO-BUTTER GARLIC BREAD - A skinnier healthier version of garlic bread with a wonderful crunch.  Guilt-free.

• If you're in the mood for party drinks, and your guests haven't far to go, try Party Sangria - one glass won't be enough but too many and the floor will wobble.  Go to NavBar How to..for drinks bases that can be served either with alcohol or fizzy water.

Party Sangria: 'It's as good as in Spain' Taster

SKINNIER HEALTHIER SANDWICHES: 

Reduce protein by adding plenty of salad, veg or fruit.  Try cheddar with apple (dropped in lemon juice to stop browning); beef & sweet pickle with yoghurt mayo; smoked mackerel with olives & flaked almonds.  There won't be as much need for expensive protein and money can be saved.  

Ham & Celeriac, an unusually tasty sandwich filling

Reduce carbs with open-faced sandwiches: devilled tuna, ham hock & celeriac salad, or the popular hoisin chicken.  Vietnamese rice paper wraps provide an unexpected sensational treat.  

OR go for a completely carb-free sandwich - slice a cucumber in half lengthwise - or in slices - , remove seeds, stuff with a layer of ham then cheese; press together.  

Courtesy of Empowered Substance and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

LOW-FAT DIPS

Have a look at Dips and Sauces for some wonderful low-fat, sassy dips.

Christmas dishes from 2015 onwards on NavBar: How to...

These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.