Frugal nibbles for social distancing

Toonie

Next weekend my DP and I are having friends pop over for a garden natter and catch up (as long as the weather holds). They are very kindly bringing a bottle of fizz and I want to make some nibbles to have with it, I just don't know what. I'm a relatively competent cook, but don't currently have much money for extras so I'm trying to do it on a budget. Does anyone have some simple and frugal savoury ideas? Sweet ideas I have covered with brownies and shortbread (any leftovers will get used up in packed lunches during the week). The only things we can't have are mushrooms, garlic, and onion.

Nelski

Why not do an afternoon tea. Few sandwiches with whatever fillings you have in add your cakes and bingo posh tea

monnagran

Sandwiches are good, especially if they are cut into bite sized shapes, mini-cheese scones, mini-sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, dips with vegetable sticks and crisps, cheese straws Ritz biscuits with various toppings (that's retro for you) mini quiches, mini anything really.
I don't want to depress you but the weather forecast for next weekend is looking a bit chilly.  Soup perhaps?

goldfinches

How about filling half pittas with shredded iceberg lettuce tossed in a home-made vinaigrette or home-made coleslaw and then topping them with quartered hard boiled eggs or tinned fish and a small blob of mayonnaise with a sprinkling of any fresh herbs you can glean from your garden or even your neighbours gardens.
The key to these being that the lettuce or coleslaw fills most of the pitta and because they are both dressed they give a big hit of flavour so the pitta never tastes boring and you've portioned everything out in the making.
The other thing I know a friend of mine swears by for finger food is this Mattessons Smoked Pork Sausage Original 160G - Tesco Groceries. I've given this link because there's currently an offer.  Sliced thinly it goes a long way I'm told.

RestlessOverDebt

Hi Toonie
Your friends are not coming to dine; simply bringing a bottle of fizz to catch-up, enjoy your company and relax.
So keep it very basic on the nibbles front; assorted crisps, peanuts salted and dry roasted along with a quiche (already cooked, just cut and serve cold)  Approximately £7 in total. 
Enjoy sharing each others company, that's all that matters.
Kind regards

-taff

I made one of Nadiyahs things last year, a basic dough with plain flour,then spread with pesto, tomatoes and cheese, folded in half or covered with the other half and cooked. Sliced into bits and taken out still warm, it was lovely, easy and cheap. You could put any filling in you liked too, sausage, potato, onion etc. Pretty much anything goes with a bit of melted cheese

I like the cream tea idea too though, that would never have occurred to me.

ScarletRibbons

That sounds tasty Taff, what a good idea.

wort

Toonie, with wine etc, I prefer savoury stuff and would usually go for nachos and crisp, garlic bread etc. The only thing at the moment would be everyone dipping their fingers into the same bowls ! At work during covid we haven't been allowed any food that can be shared without wrappings on. Even fruit unless it can be peeled such as bananas and satsumas. Apple's are out as not everyone would wash or peel them 😨
Maybe do a little plate each with bits on and cover with clingfilm so they all have their own nibbles. I hope the weather is good and you enjoy your day.

PollyWollyDoodle

Cheese straws. Always a winner in my book - Nigellas ‘cheesy feet’ are my favourite recipe, you don’t have to use foot-shaped cutters!   

3secondmemory

Little bites on 2m long cocktail sticks? 😂😂

cucumber sandwiches and some homemade scones. You can’t go cheaper and everybody loves high tea 😃

Rosa_Damascena

-taff said:

I made one of Nadiyahs things last year, a basic dough with plain flour,then spread with pesto, tomatoes and cheese, folded in half or covered with the other half and cooked. Sliced into bits and taken out still warm, it was lovely, easy and cheap. You could put any filling in you liked too, sausage, potato, onion etc. Pretty much anything goes with a bit of melted cheese

I like the cream tea idea too though, that would never have occurred to me.

I remember seeing this recently on catch up - was reasonably simple to make but looked very impressive once baked and out of the oven. Not so much a share-bread as a tug-of-war commodity