Happy New Year’s Eve to you all!!

As we are both feeling a little unwell (damn you manflu) we have decided to host an impromptu soirée to being in the new year but as usual have left it too late to go shopping. We only have a select group coming so I don’t need to go overboard but do need to provide some food!!

I’ve rooted through the freezer and come up with the following nibbles menu to help us get through the night. Luckily we already have cocktail items in and have a few bottles of fizz left over from Xmas so drinks are covered. Before I start I preheat the oven to gas mark 6 which works for all the oven items below.

Mini prawn cocktails…

2 x mini gem lettuce
1 pack of frozen prawns
Ketchup, mayo and paprika
Lemon juice

We had a couple of mini gem lettuce left from Xmas and some frozen prawns which I’ve defrosted. I then mixed up 1 part ketchup to 4 parts mayonnaise and added in a squeeze of lemon juice. I added this to the prawns, and put a tablespoon of this mix into each leaf finishing with a tiny sprinkle of paprika…..divine

Spruced up sausages…

A lb of mini sausages, the best you can get
Huge squirt of maple syrup
Tablespoon of whole grain mustard
Some toasted sesame seeds

I always buy too many good mini sausages from my local butcher at Xmas and freeze them for just this occasion, but frozen ones work just as well with this recipe. Simply roast the mini sausages in the oven till browned. Meanwhile mix the maple syrup and whole grain mustard together to make a glaze. Lastly take the sausages out of the oven and sprinkle with the sesame seeds, and coat in the glaze….and devour

Easy Smoked salmon pate…

A pack of smoked salmon ends
A tub of cream cheese (I use quark as it’s fat free)
Salt and pepper
Chives
1/2 tsp horseradish

I made this first when I was on slimming world as it’s divine and Syn free!! It’s also bloody easy. Simply put all ingredients in a blender (I use a stick blender and a bowl). Then pop in the fridge till you need it and serve on pretty much anything. I love it on celery sticks cut into bite size lengths.

Mini quiches….

Pack of ready rolled shortcrust pastry
3 eggs
4 rashers of bacon, diced
1 small red onion diced
2 tablespoons of Cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper to taste
dash of double cream
sprinkle of fresh or dried parsley

This is another amazing cheaters recipe. I have small muffin tins from a party years ago but these work as well in cupcake tins. Simply mix the eggs, cheese, cream, salt & pepper and parsley in a jug. Then cut the pastry into rounds using a cutter or glass and fill the pastry tins. Next add a small amount of onion and bacon to each tin and fill with the egg mix and bake till golden brown.

Nigellas nuts…

500 grams unsalted mixed nuts (a good bag of mixed works well but make sure you add pecans and macadamia to the mix)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dark brown muscovado sugar
2 teaspoons maldon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)

These are actually the union square bar nuts so I don’t mind nicking this and putting it here, besides they are my favourite. Simply spread your nuts on a baking sheet and roast for about 10 mins meanwhile In a bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, muscovado sugar, salt and melted butter. Thoroughly toss the toasted nuts in the spiced butter and serve warm.

Finishing touches….

I always have olives, crisps, crudités and dips in so I add those into the mix which finishes off the food. I’ve decided this year to add pomegranate juice to the champagne to make a Flabulous fizz. Add that to the Mojitos, cosmos and Moscow mules and there we go, the perfect no fuss New Year’s Eve nibbles party

So that’s it for 2013, have a fantastic New Year’s Eve and remember, whatever you do this year make it Flabulous !!!