Hiya

I'm in the throes of sorting the Mum-In-Laws 50th birthday party and I've got most stuff sorted and now I just need to put a shopping list together as we are providing our own food. I started writing a list of the usual stuff, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, pork pies, quiche and then I thought it all sounded a bit dull, so I'm after some inspiration for something a bit different!

I'll still have all the 'classics' like cheese and pineapple on sticks (my fave! ) but I wanted to add a few extra special items.

Any ideas? It has to be easy to put together and okay to be served cold though!

deep fried locusts. Locusts are cheap and delicious, crunchy and nutritious.

As a slightly different take on vol au vents, try using parcels of filo pastry.

Go for unusual fillings. Blueberries and Gruyere? Yum.

Try salmon en croute with either a spinach or mushroom stuffing; combination of wild rice and organic brown basmati rice also looks very elegant. If you like fish it's absolutely delicious, looks extremely professional and is very cost-effective. An additional benefit is that a little goes a very long way and the odds are you'll have stacks left over for your freezer. I made this for a special birthday for one of my closest friends and still receive compliments although it was quite a considerable while ago.

Finger Food - Great for parties or snacks
For those unfamiliar with finger food, just a brief note to explain the foundamentials. Finger Food is as the name speaks, food which you eat with your fingers - it could include anything - Mexican tacos, enchiladas, dips, sausage rolls, chicken wings and many other delicious yummies.





Asparagus Guacamole Dip - (FingerFood)
Avocado Shrimp Mousse - (FingerFood)
Eggplant Pockets Filled with Herbed Ricotta Cheese - (FingerFood)
Tomato & Basil Tart - (FingerFood)
Tomato, Goat Cheese and Basil Bites - (FingerFood)
Beer-Marinated Chicken Tacos - (FingerFood)
Goat Cheese Tartlets - (FingerFood)
Crab Meat Bacon Rolls - (FingerFood)
Chicken Croquettes - (FingerFood)
Cheese Puffs - (FingerFood)
Stuffed Eggs - (FingerFood)
Zucchini Parmesan Slices - (FingerFood)
Bacon Spinach Quiche - (FingerFood)
Cheese Bites - (FingerFood)
Stuffed Avocados - (FingerFood)
Spinach & Blue cheese tart - (FingerFood)
Potato pancakes with avocado salsa - (FingerFood)
Hot Chicken Wings - (FingerFood)
Satay Drumsticks - an alternative to traditional drumsticks - (FingerFood)
Salmon & Cucumber Bites - (FingerFood)
Crab fritters (Tuna or Salmon fritters) - (FingerFood)


http://www.passionateaboutfood.net/finger.php
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http://entertaining.about.com/od/horsdoeuvres/

there's loads of ideas in the freezer sections of supermarkets nowadays too- indian and chinese varieties go down well nowadays.

Hope all goes well.

How about a rice dish? Boiled cold rice, tinned tuna and pesto sauce. Mix up for a lovely cold rice salad. Or rice mixed with mint sauce and chopped cucumber.

Same with cous cous ........... cous cous, cucumber, tomato, sweetcorn, peppers, onion etc.

I went to a couple of weddings last year where the buffet was not traditional finger food but was mini fish and chips, mini burger and chips and chicken nuggets and chips. I'm veggie so it was no good for me but they also did soup in a cup which i had some of with a mini bread roll.
I thought it was a really novel idea at the first one and is exactly the sort of food you want when you've had a drink. First one was a posh catering firm (and also in london) but my other friend pinched the idea for her wedding and got a family friend to do it for her.
Then again i went to a fab one in the peaks that was all salads and meats and mushrooms that i'd never heard of.

Onion Bhajis, Chinese spring rolls, Vegetable samosas
Baby tomatoes and mozarella cheese on cocktail sticks with a drizzle of pesto over
mini salmon fishcakes
lots of dips with peppers, carrots, cucumber, breadsticks etc