Rachel’s Christmas party
Canapes don’t have to be a nightmare
Don’t stress out if friends and family are calling over for drinks and nibbles, as Rachel Allen has some great recipes that are delicious and easy to make
It was a great idea at the time, inviting your friends over for drinks on Christmas morning. However, if you’re now furiously wracking your brain about what to serve, then I have some ideas for you.
The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple. The chicory, blue cheese, pecan and cranberry bites here are delightfully seasonal with great flavour. Easy to put together and serve, these are made in minutes. The recipe also works well as a salad. Just slice the chicory leaves and mix through more salad greens with the blue-cheese filling and dressing, and, hey presto, you have a super starter.
The salmon rillettes resemble a rough pâté that is normally made from rich meat like pork, duck or goose. I love the combination of equal parts smoked and fresh salmon, but if you prefer you can use all of one type. It’s also a great way of using up smoked salmon after Christmas. Once made and covered, it’ll keep perfectly in the fridge for up to three or four days, and can be frozen, too. Just make sure to bring it up to room temperature before serving.
Pâté is always a winner at this time of the year, be it to serve with toast and a glass of mulled wine, should some people drop in for a bit of Christmas cheer, or perhaps with a glass of something cold and sparkling on Christmas morning. It can be made in advance and served easily. This recipe is one that has been made at Ballymaloe for over half a century.
I love to serve it with the Pedro
Ximenez raisins. Deliciously sweet, almost date-like in flavour, Pedro Ximenez is a sherry that’s also divine enjoyed in a glass over a cube of ice with the pate, or at the end of a meal.
Or for a real treat, try drizzling it over ice cream. I’m really hoping Santa Claus will bring me a bottle… For a sweet treat, the raspberry jam and cream almond tartlets are a doddle to make.
“Pâté is always a winner at this time of the year. Serve it with toast and mulled wine”