Help with christmas food please

carlamarie_2

I wasn't sure whether to post here or on th OS board, so please move if better elsewhere

Im after advice on what I can bake for over christmas which will last about a week or so.
Last year we decided to not buy any extra food to have in as treats as i was sick of the waste when it wasn't eaten.
Big mistake! It just wasnt christmas! Even though it doesn't get eaten it was always there just in case and we found ourselves raiding the cupboards last year looking for treats.

So rather then forking out for tins of chocs, giant toblerone a and chocolate oranges, i thought I'd give a try baking a decent amount of treats and snacks instead.
So far i have thought of choc chip cookies, flapjacks, sausage rolls and cheese straws. Can anyone think of anything else?
Like I say it would be good if it could last about a week, as home baking always goes down well with visitors (tins of chocs dont, everyone has them at their own homes!) or maybe if it could be frozen as takn out to defrost the night before?

Also, while im on the topic of food at christmas. Every Boxing Day we have our in laws down for lunch. I put on some kind of buffet, typically what you'd expect, sandwiches, sausage rolls quiches etcetc.
Last year i went all out and did a seafood platter which went down fantastic!
But it was so hard getting it all due to dates on the seafood, fridge space and the fact that I don't drive so had to depend on people to get the stuff in! Last year i was queuing for 45mins in morrisons on xmas eve for lobsters!never again!

I don't want to go back to the simple Buffett after the success of last year, but its just too difficult sourcing all the things for the seafood platter.
Can anyone give me any ideas for a buffet which is different? And could be easily sourced? I was thinking maybe a Chinese or Thai themed, but what kind of things should i look at serving?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help

teamshepherd

I like making Rum Balls and Raffaello Coconut Balls. Both are incredibly easy to make, no baking. Can sit in the fridge for ages and they freeze wonderfully.
I have been known to make large batches of them, portion and pop in the freezer. If someone comes over they will thaw and be ready within minutes, without the guest even noticing
Also these are my fave because really, once you get the basics down you can tweak them and add different bits and bobs in to make it into your own.
I don't have my recipes on hand (although i end up going 'by the eye' anyway and variations are endless) so heres a couple of links:

http://dolcefooda.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/homemade-raffaello-coconut-balls.html

I notice a lot of these use corn syrup, never tried it with that I usually just go for baking unsalted margarine/ butter.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/holiday-rum-balls-recipe/index.html

You can always Google these yourself

Sorry not much more help, I will probably run back to this thread as I think of more stuff >_< :P

carlamarie_2

That's perfect! These would go down really well I think!thank you!

fatblackandwhite

I thought I had posted this earlier, but obviously not!

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/CHRISTMAS-MORNING-MUFFINS-5239

Now I have never made them, but always fancied trying. They sound quite nice.

I DO recommend Nigella's chilli jam - I made some last year after everyone on here raved about it and it is delicious - especially on ham or cheese. It makes a few jars depending on size and keeps for a few months unopened.

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chilli-jam-2692

fatblackandwhite

How about Thai fishcakes?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/thaifishcakesservedw_73733

Might even go with the chilli jam!

LalaGomay

fatblackandwhite wrote: »

I DO recommend Nigella's chilli jam - I made some last year after everyone on here raved about it and it is delicious - especially on ham or cheese. It makes a few jars depending on size and keeps for a few months unopened.

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chilli-jam-2692

I'm really tempted to make that.

Only problem is, I love sweet chilli flavoured things, but most chilli flavoured things are too hot for me.

Is her chilli jam hot?
Perhaps I should use less chilli than she says.

fatblackandwhite

LalaGomay wrote: »

I'm really tempted to make that.

Only problem is, I love sweet chilli flavoured things, but most chilli flavoured things are too hot for me.

Is her chilli jam hot?
Perhaps I should use less chilli than she says.

It is like that sweet chilli dipping sauce you can get but with the consistency of jam - if that helps?

LalaGomay

fatblackandwhite wrote: »

It is like that sweet chilli dipping sauce you can get but with the consistency of jam - if that helps?

Oh wow, that sounds perfect. Sign me up!

teacherandmum

mini quiches
put thin shortcrust in shallow muffin tins
fry some finely chooped onion, bacon, (whatever you fancy)
beat some eggs to gether and add a splash of milk. add salt and pepper and herbs if fancied
put some onion mixture and a small amount of grated cheese in each pastry circle and fill with the egg mixture
need to cook for about 10 mins or until the egg is set.
These freeze wonderfully and defrost in a few hours

flipper_72

Not sure if you class this as a different buffet, but I did a cooked meats platter - lots of different hams, salami, pepperoni etc with crusty bread, pickles. The good thing about this is the dates on the packs are usually a couple of months so you can start the purchases early, I bought most of mine in Aldi in my normal shops in the weeks leading up (I do have a fridge in my garage though otherwise I think DH would finish them off for lunches).

carlamarie_2

Some fantastic ideas, keep them coming!