Entertaining at home over Christmas can be stressful.
It can often get to a point that when entertaining guests in your own home, you simply just can’t enjoy it yourself.
I have put together a simple list of different drinks and finger foods that are ideal over the festive season.
They can be prepared for in advance, and take the stress out of entertaining.
Mulled Wine
It isn’t Christmas without a glass of mulled wine. It’s simply like Christmas in a glass. Warm and comforting with hints of spices.
This re heats well, and will also keep in the fridge for a few days.
Ingredients
1 bottle of red wine
Half bottle of water
1 orange
1 lemon
cloves
cinnamon bark
star anise
2 tablespoons light brown sugar.
- Add cloves to the slices of fruit. Add wine,water and sugar to a saucepan followed by the oranges, lemons, and spices.
- Heat slowly, and over a low heat. Stir occasionally.
- Serve warm, but not scalding.
Irish Whiskey Punch
Hot Whiskey is an old fashioned favourite. Often used when you’re a bit under the weather. A very comforting drink to sip on a cold winters evening by the fire.
Ingredients
150ml Irish Whiskey
4-5 teaspoons of soft brown sugar (can also use white sugar)
6 cloves
2 slices of lemon
Boiling water
Serves 2.
- Add sugar and whiskey to glasses
- Stick cloves into lemon slices
- Add the hot water and stir consistently until the sugar has dissolved.
Roasted Spiced Nuts
Serving simple finger food nibbles over Christmas always goes down well, but here are a few simple canapes you can make in advance before you’re guests arrive.
This is a very basic recipe, but a good one to use.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoons of sea salt flakes
1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin
Fresh black pepper
1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
100g whole almonds
100g hazelnuts
100g cashew nuts
- Heat oil in a large pan over a medium heat
- Add spices, salt and pepper, cook for just a few seconds and quickly add the nuts.
- Toss until they start to colour slightly taste and add more salt if needed.
- Allow to cool and serve in a small bowl to pass around.
- These will also keep very well over the days during Christmas.
Mini Bruschettas
These couldn’t get any more simple.
Ingredients
4-5 fresh tomatoes (Can use a mix of different tomatoes)
1-2 cloves of crushed garlic
fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper.
- Chop the tomatoes, add the crushed garlic, torn basil leaves and season with salt and pepper.
- Leave to set in the fridge to allow enhance the flavours (can be done the night before)
- Cut up slices of fresh baguette, lightly toast with a small drizzle of olive oil.
- Serve on a large serving platter.
Quesadillas.
These are often made on a daily basis in our house. But always go down a treat when entertaining. Quesadillas are best known as a Mexican traditional recipe.
They are very quick to make, convenient, and always so satisfying as a light snack.
You can use whatever you fancy, and make it as simple as you like. I often just use ham and cheese.
- Place a tortilla wrap on a hot non – stick pan, add grated cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or whatever you fancy)
- add some leftover turkey or ham shredded into pieces, with some sliced scallions, chillies or whatever takes your fancy!
- Top with another tortilla, when the cheese has melted flip over the tortilla and allow to cook on the other side for about a minute.
- Cut into triangle slices and serve immediately.
- Serve alongside some guacamole.
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