This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
As you know, dear Reader, there is nothing this Margot likes more than a good party! For our first countryside Christmas, Jerry and I will be entertaining some of our new neighbours before midnight mass on Christmas Eve so drinks and nibbles will be a must. I’m sure some mulled wine will be in order too or, if I am very lucky, a delicious glass of sloe gin fizz. First though, I better get cracking and whip up some little bitesize morsels to stop the vicar from getting too tipsy before the service. Here are a few of my festive favourites:
CHERRY OLIVES
- Cherry tomatoes
- Black olives
- Mozzarella
Slice the cherry tomatoes in halve and scoop out seeds. Cut a small piece of mozzarella to fit inside the tomato shell and place an olive on top, pressing the olive into place. Bake in a preheated oven 200 degrees C/Gas mark 6 – the tomato is ready when the outside has softened slightly. Do not overcook as you will end up with sludgy tomato.
SMOKED SALMON CROUTONS
- French bread
- Crème fraiche
- Smoked salmon
- Lumpfish caviar/salmon roe
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- Olive oil
Slice thin rounds of French bread no more than ½ cm thick. Lay them out on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Place in a preheated oven 200 degrees C/Gas mark 6 and bake until golden. Once the croutons are cooked, take them out of the oven and leave on the baking tray to cool. With a teaspoon, add a small dollop of crème fraiche to the crouton. Top with a delicate portion of smoked salmon. Drizzle over lemon juice and top with a small amount of caviar or roe.
PARMA HAM PRAWN SKEWERS
- Raw tiger prawns
- Parma ham
- 1 tbsp of apple balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Wrap a raw prawn with a small piece of parma ham. Overlap the parma ham until the whole prawn is covered. Insert a skewer into the middle of the prawn, making sure that the skewer holds the ham to the prawn. Mix together the oil and vinegar and using a pastry brush, brush each skewer with the mixture. Cook in a preheated oven 200 degrees C/Gas mark 6 for 7mins.
Looks like I might have to leave out a few canapes for Father Christmas too with a glass of something by the fire. Well, dear Reader, I do want to make sure he leaves something decent under the tree for little old me. A very merry Christmas to you and yours!