Can I pick your culinary brains? (Christmas Bash)

[Cruella DeVilla]

Planning a litle soirre over the Christmas holidays with some friends and as I have not seen some of them for sometime I want to make it a good get together. I will have plenty of bubbles and nice wines and everysort of spirt imaginable to throw together a few cocktails but I am looking for ideas for food, mainly finger type foods.

I don't want the sausage roll/sausage on a stick type of food as I am looking for the do to be a wee bit poshesr so any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Of course I don't have access to M&S/Tescos etc or the likes so no cheating for me!

I pinched a couple of Jamie Olivers idea on his latest advert with the prawn on a gem heart leaf and a wee dollop of cocktail sauce, this is the kind of idea I am looking for...

Need some little sweet nibbles too.

Please help

[Ray&Sarah]

Prunes wrapped in bacon, usually hav those at my hubbys christmas do which his bosses wife puts on.[msnsmile2]

[Ray&Sarah]

Or how about:

1.Figs in a blanket: wrap quartered fresh figs with Parma ham and secure with a cocktail stick. Sprinkle over some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then heat the grill to maximum and grill for 3-5 minutes, turning the figs halfway through cooking. To serve, drizzle over more olive oil and season with freshly milled pepper.
2. Make the whole thing edible by using grissini, spreading one end with cream cheese, then rolling it in toasted sesame seeds.
3.Slit open softened prunes almost all the way through, and stuff with mango chutney, then wrap in bacon and secure with a stick. These are easy to make and can be prepared way in advance. You can either grill them or bake them. When you’re ready to serve them, dust with cayenne pepper.

[DiannaUK]

Smoked salmon pancakes are good.

Get some very thin slices of smoked salmon and arrange them into 3-4" squares. Get some cooked prawns, horseradish sauce, black pepper, squirt of lemon juice and some double cream and mix together and then place a generous dollop on to the smoked salmon squares and roll into a pancake shape (or a cornet shape is nice too).

Delicious!

[Cruella DeVilla]

Thanks Sarah, I had Devils on horsebacks or is it or angels on horsebacks when I had dinner with the lord Mayor of Leicester a few years ago....long story! Everyone was turning there nose up and they actually were not that bad, they were served after dessert and people were like what the heck is this! The second suggestions sound interesting, might have to have a dummy run!

[Lynnes]

Puff pastry layered with pesto mozarella salami or any such meat sundried tomatoes and pine nuts. Baked in the oven and then cut into squares. Georgeous

[Macka]

It depends how much time you want to spend CDV.

You could do small terrines filled with smoked haddock and bacon pieces in single cream. I could get you the recipe for these, one of my favourites They're utterly delicious and small, so ot finger food but they go down a storm. (you need small spoons or forks though).

Or

Nice sliced wholemeal bread,cut the crusts off, sprinkle lemon juice sparingly over it, spread cream cheese over, lay smoked salmon all over, then roll up like a cigarrette, slice up, salmon cartwheels! (easy sushi if you like)

or

Chicken chunks, stir fried golden brown in Honey, with a piece of pepper or other veg on cocktail sticks, a real change to cocktail sausages.

[E. Cosgrove]

Chicken livers wrapped in bacon on a cocktail stick are devine although not everyone is partial to liver, as for the rest I'm afrraid it's M+S or Sainsbury's for me, sorry I can't be of more help[msnsad]

[Cruella DeVilla]

Oh I am salivating at the minute, thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming!

I have plenty of time to prepare Paul, so if you find some spare time I would appreciate the full recipe and any other ideas you might have. It does not have to be finger food but anything you can eat easily without the need to sit down at the table.

[LiesaAnna]

Auntie Nan's Ham & Asparagus Spirals Recipe #99154
My sister introduced me to these. They are always a big hit at buffets. Costco is a good place to get the supplies for these, as they sell almost all the ingredients (except maybe the squeeze cheese) in large quantities and at a decent price. These are also good just as a sandwich wrap. Ingredient amounts are approximate, varying according to taste and quantities desired.
1 package 10-inch flour tortillas (burrito size)
8-16 ounces cream cheese, softened (amount will depend on taste)
1 lb fresh spinach, prewashed and stems removed
1 lb sliced lean ham
1 (8 ounce) can processed cheese (in aerosol squeeze can, such as Nabisco EZ Cheese)
1 (2 lb) jar pickled asparagus spears, drained

We don't know how many servings this makes. If you do, tell us. Change size or US/metric
Change to: US Metric

30 minutes 30 mins prep

Lay a tortilla on a flat work surface, then spread with cream cheese, covering to the edge.
Spread a single layer of spinach on top of the cream cheese, then a layer of ham.
On the side closest to you, place an asparagus spear and a single line of squeeze cheese; roll it up and place seam side down.
If desired, these can be carefully rolled up and sealed in plastic wrap at this point, and refrigerated for a few hours or up to overnight.
When ready to serve, cut into 3/4"-1" slices.
Lay flat on a serving tray and serve immediately.
Refrigerate leftovers.

Crab-Asparagus Lettuce Rolls Recipe #64116
Can be made small for appetizer or larger for luncheon or serve mix and lettuce cups separately for the diner to put together. Entry for RSC spring. (chill time 1 hour).
1 lb crabmeat, real or imitation
1/2 lb asparagus, nice thin spears,divided
2 medium fresh s[bad language filtered out]ed carrots, grated
2 medium fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
lettuce leaves (iceberg or romaine works well)
100 g pecan halves, divided
kosher salt
cayenne pepper
parmesan cheese, finely grated (optional)
Dressing
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2-3 tablespoons cucumber-dill salad dressing (the thick kind, consistency of mayonnaise)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 lemon, juice of
1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

12-24 servings Change size or US/metric
Change to: servings US Metric

30 minutes 30 mins prep

Combine all dressing ingredients in food processor or blender; blend until smooth and the consistency of a mayonnaise based dip.
Cover and set aside in the refrigerator.
Pour the pecan halves on a tray and toast, 7 or 8 minutes; remove from oven and sprinkle with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste.
Set aside to cool, when cool, coarse chop 1/4 cup, leave the rest whole.
Break tough ends off asparagus; steam for 3 minutes, just until tender crisp, there should be lots of crunch left.
Plunge into ice water; slice all but 12 spears into 1/4 inch pieces.
S[bad language filtered out]e the carrots and grate, seed and dice the tomatoes.
Rinse the crabmeat and thourghly dry on paper towel, squeezing out the moisture.
(If using imitation, chop into small pieces.) Combine crabmeat, chopped asparagus, grated carrots, diced tomatoes, chopped pecans, dried dill weed, salt and cayenne pepper; mix well.
Add 1/2 of the dressing to the crabmeat mixture.
Use only enough dressing to hold the mixture together.
The mixture should be fairly dry, not runny.
Reserve the rest of the dressing to use as a dip for the lettuce rolls.
Wash and separate lettuce leaves, dry as much as possible, best dried in a spinner.
Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of crabmeat mixture in lettuce cup and roll as tightly as possible appetizer size, use toothpicks if necessary, or leave open if you wish.
Repeat until all filling mixture is used.
Place on serving platter and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
(I like to grate the Parmesan w