Suggestions for finger buffet please!

[Deleted User]

In a rash moment I invited some friends around for a "wine and nibbles" evening near Christmas. Now panicking because of our strict budget (really cutting back at the moment). Shop bought stuff works out really expensive. Trouble is that some of the friends who are coming like nice food (e.g. M&S is their "local supermarket" !!) so I can't just sling some sandwiches together. Besides that, it IS Xmas so would like to provide nice food if possible.

Any tips for things I can provide to nibble with drinks which won't cost a fortune (apart from the usual crisps/nuts). Don't mind doing some baking!

Help!!

inmypocketnottheirs

Vol au vents, try with streaky bacon with melted stilton, or maybe with mushrooms and stilton. You dont need that much cheese. How about houmous with pitta bread cut into slices. You could make your own houmous by blended chick peas, garlic and some olive oil.

bindiboo

party food is down to £1.00 in the frozen dection in Asda if this helps

pookienoodle

why not do a tour of m & s and then just copy their ideas?
brushetta and such like are really cheap to make.
also buy things like value branded peanuts and then spice them yourself.
its quite easy to cheaply recreate products from m&s and waitrose if you are a goodish cook.
looke carefully at the presentation as this can often make nibbles look really special.
Just looked and m&s has a party food magazine you can view online(sorry I am useless with links) with lots of nice stuff in.

Smiley_Mum

Few ideas on this website...

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/showthread.php?p=998247

http://uktv.co.uk/food/thread/threadid/35383

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/food/recipes/queryengine?templatestyle=refine_by_1&config=db&page=1&pagesize=15&attrib_15=parties&oper_15=eq&val_15_1=1

wannabe_a_mum

How about those party platters from Iceland - if you present them in the correct way, you won't be able to tell where you bought them! (If the advert is anything to go by!)
And from what I have seen, the packs are quite cheap!

Sorry can't be any more help, but I am asian (muslim) and a)wouldn't have a clue what is traditional at this sort of gathering/where to buy and b)In our tradition, we tend to make at home and I am not sure if our traditional items would be suitable? Unless you themed - in which case you could get bargains at your local asian supermarket!

pobby_2

home made cheese straws are easy to make and taste lovely.
A nicely presented dish of vegetable sticks and houmus is nice and healthy too when you always seem to get loads of heavy food (carrot / celery / peppers / baby tomatoes).
You could make 'posh' sandwiches by cutting them into little fingers like m&s do.
Olives and pistachios (lidl ones are nice and not at all expensive)
Home made dips with creme fraiche and various flavourings (eg cheese / garlic) will 'posh up' ordinary crisps
mini bruschetta and home-made garlic bread with cheese
Parma ham wrapped round small pieces of melon
mini-quiches
mini-pizzas

... I think if you take care to presentation you can make anything look really special and christmas it all up by adding a few christmas 'pick' decorations (saw some in asda very cheap the other day) or even sprigs of holly or pine (free if you have a forest nearby)

Good luck!

kaja86

Hi Corona!
I will be watching this thread avidly because I have a house full at New Year and they are the same crowd I've had for the last three years and it would be nice to do something different!
I always make my own mini quiche, mince pies (with a star on the top instead of a lid) and mini pizza. If you present them nicely with a sprig of holly, dusted with icing or fancy lettuce leaves I think they look 'posher'!!!
HTH

balmaiden

I saw packs of party "bits" in Aldi the other day, in the freezer section. Sorry I didn't notice the price, but Aldi are usually very reasonable.

crystal_fire

i think morissons is definately value for money and they always have good 241's and various others.

Psykicpup

how about satay chicken skewers - lovely & really easy to do http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=435866
Vol-au-Vonts - I like garlic sauce with chicken, mushroom rice, flavoured soft cheeses & prawn (scrimp) with either cream cheese or a 1000 island type sauce
home made dips with a bag or two of 'posh crisps' -on offer almost everyware
some fruit or veg -ie grapes, carrot stick, celery olives
strangely I've found those Veggie fingers (those ones from the frozen section that look like fish fingers) cooked & served cold cut in half never hang aroung long :rolleyes:
maybe a cheese board ...
ohh & crackers with pate - if you plate up into your own container they wont know where its from or you can make your own its surprisingly easy....