How to make these M&S Canapes ourselves?

CompBunny

Hiya OS-ers,

Wasn't sure whether to put this here or on the wedding board but thought it was more an OS thing

After my wedding ceremony we are bringing all the guests back inside the church for a glass of pimms and something to nibble before the proper meal - cheaper than having it at the reception venue and it means that we can provide a little something for the few people who just want to see the ceremony but not attend the reception.

I was thinking something like this http://www.marksandspencer.com/24-mini-fresh-fruit-tartlets/p/p21001834 might be suitable. How easy do you think it would be to make these ourselves? I'm no good at making pastry.. and Would it be much cheaper?

Or any other (very) easy to make or cheap to buy canape-type suggestions would be welcome!

Whatever it is would need to be served cold. Probably 80-90 people all being well..

Thanks! xxx

adouglasmhor

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1511710/summer-fruit-bowl-tartlets

Might give you an idea, only the fruit on top is radically different from the MandS ones and that's easily fixed. You could buy ready baked cases http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Angles-Sweet-Pastry-Tartlets/dp/B00C775ZFE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398162144&sr=8-3&keywords=sweet+tartlet+cases for example.

Lovelyjoolz

They would be fairly easy, but they will have to be made the day before at the earliest - will you have the time to make them? Do you want the stress of it? Are you a regular baker? What if they go wrong?

If you're a confident baker then go for it. This would be handy:
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/12514/My-Kitchen-Cook-and-Bake-Mini-Morsel-Set

You could get a mini production line going if you have a few helpers.

They would really be better made the morning of the wedding because they might get soggy bottoms if you make them too far in advance. But you could make the pastry cases a couple of days before and then fill with creme pat and top with the fruit at the latest point you are able.

pelirocco

Are the church ok with this?

Valli

I'm intrigued. I have NEVER EVER been to a wedding where nibbles have been served in the church...and I have been to a few weddings!

Anyway

Pastry cases - these could be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight tin. It's normal to blind bake them. Most of the supermarkets sell tartlet cases (for that is what they are) or you can make them; usually they are made with sweet pastry.

The Creme patissiere is a bit more fiddly and I would suggest you practice this ahead of time.

But the logistics of getting to the church and getting this all set up, with the Pimms etc would put me RIGHT off - unless I could 'persuade' someone to help. You'll need glasses; something non-alcoholic for the drivers/young people, plates, napkins etc. Then there's the clearing up....

adouglasmhor

I have once in a Quaker meeting house.

CompBunny

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it might just be easier to buy them or just serve pimms without nibbles!

The church (C of E) are fine with it.. It was my Mum's idea actually, and I like the idea of doing things a bit differently My brother and sister in law have volunteered to serve the pimms or elderflower cordial from jugs and Mum will organise borrowing the glasses from Sainsburys. But the tartlets are sounding like hard work to make if they need to ideally be done on the morning of the wedding...couldn't do them myself and wouldn't feel comfortable lumbering someone else with the task!

[Deleted User]

If you would like some easy nibbles that could be either bought or homemade and would keep very well if made a few days before the wedding then cheese straws or biscuits and macaroon biscuits would both go well when sipping pimms and be easy to transport and set out at the back of the church and with less potential crumb dropping than pastry goods, hope that helps.

AlwaysAllie

I went to a church wedding where this happened and it was a lovely touch - and gave people something to do while the photos were being taken!

AA

skogar

My sister did this at her wedding too. We served elderflower cordial, orange juice and sparkling wine. We had sausage rolls (nice ones bought from the local butcher) and I made a load of cheese sausage rolls (the ones from Delia Smith's Christmas). I made the cheese sausage rolls in advance froze them and baked them on the morning of the wedding. The cheese ones were even more popular than the sausage - I think because people hadn't had them before. Also sausage rolls are a bit more filling than some of the tiny canapes. To keep the drinks cool we had them in a big plastic box with water and ice in.

Valli

Well, well, well...I never knew this was a thing! Just goes to show!