Confessions of a Foodie #4
Our resident foodie has tips for Christmas; you'll need crisps, a tree, and some hired goons
'Tis the season to be jolly, but jolliness is mainly for the famous and those with nothing better to do. However, should you be rash enough to invite a bunch of friends over there’s a few things you should know. Food for your Christmas soiree should be high snazz, low maintenance, and cheap. Pros and my party throwing chums all agree on this point. The other thing that everyone agrees on is that people eat with their eyes – so set up a table and create the ultimate beautiful centre piece. Really go for it, unlock your inner artist; this is where you can express yourself wildly and have some fun before people start pawing at everything. Odd shaped big plates from charity shops are great, cover them in loads of non-poisonous shrubbery and pine branches, whap on some fairy lights and you're partying like a king.
Now I’ve yet to meet a hopped-up-on-Asti party-goer who bemoaned the lack of tuna carpaccio, nor do I know of anyone who won't go through a tube of Pringles like a Dyson given the opportunity. Let crisps, nuts, and other salty doo-das be your fluffer if you are going to the effort of doing a few homemade canapés. And if you are going to the effort here’s my top four popular, easy, and delicious party snacks:
1. Sausages or chorizo wrapped in puff pastry and cut into sausage rolls. Dead easy to prepare ahead of time ready to pop into the oven.
2. Baby baked potatoes with crème fraiche and smoked salmon. It’s easy to do lots of these even if you’ve got a wee oven. Grab a couple of people to help out – one person opening, one dodding the crème, and one twiddling the salmon artfully. If they refuse to help, threaten to call security and have them removed. Even if there is no security.
3. Chipolatas roasted in the oven dressed with wholegrain mustard, honey, and a splash of white wine vinegar can work.
4. Or you could just go for one lovely big platter of your favourite food; roast peppers, olives, artichokes, smoked almonds, a selection of cheeses and some dips. Something for everyone, seeing as it's Christmas.