by Rosemary Redfern

Created on: November 07, 2011

The best appetizers for Christmas will, to a certain extent, depend on what climate zone you live in. Certain foods appeal more in different weather.  It’s worth having a selection of items in the store cupboard or the freezer which can be put together quickly for unexpected guests or for the pleasure of the family. These suggestions are tiny.

A simple appetizer is small slices of French bread, toasted, topped with a home made tomato sauce. On top place a thin slice of chorizo which has been fried crisply and a piece of parsley or a basil leaf.  The tomatoes are cut up and the seeds discarded. Sweat the flesh with a little olive oil and some mixed herbs and salt and pepper until there is a homogenous mush.  It takes a few minutes and tastes fresh. This is a standby for Spanish tapas.

It is possible to buy pieces of smoked salmon rather than large slices. In a blender make a small amount of smoked mackerel pate with creme fresh, cream or plain yoghurt.  Add a teaspoon of horseradish sauce, paprika and salt and pepper.  Melt a little butter and add to the mixture, blend again.  Lay out the pieces of smoked salmon, put a teaspoon of the pate on the end and roll up. pin with a cocktail stick. Stand on its end on a presentation plate and surround with parsley, mint or some other green herbs. The finished fish should be slightly smaller than a thumb.  

Blinis, or Russian pancakes, can be bought or made but they are a useful addition to the freezer.  Top with sour cream mixed with herbs and then either real caviar (can be bought in small jars) or the red fish roe which is less expensive and gives a nice color. 

For the health conscious, raw vegetables such as carrot sticks, celery sticks, sweet pepper strips, cauliflower florets and any other raw vegetable or even fruit that you fancy always go down well with garlic mayonnaise. There is something about dipping into a tasty sauce which is satisfying. The mayonnaise can be home made in a blender or bought but the garlic needs to be well broken up.

Roll an unsalted anchovy around a small olive, one stuffed with either sweet peppers or tomato.  Keep them bite sized then pin two together to produce a double pinwheel effect.  

Finely sliced, smoked bacon rolled round either oysters or prunes and pinned with a toothpick is an exotic offering. This needs to be baked for a few minutes in a hot oven or even a microwave to cook the bacon.  Serve hot. 

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