canapes and finger food for a birthday

[isee]

Throwing a party for OH's birthday, but we are both out of the country until the day before her birthday. The plan is to invite 10-15 guests for a bbq on the terrace but would like ot get some canapes/snacks so that nobody has to bee looking at the bbq with a hungry face.
Central london. any recommendations?

[Dupont666]

pickled onions and cheese cubes on cocktail sticks.

pineapple chunks and cheese cubes on cocktail sticks.

cocktail hotdogs

what kind of impression were you wanting to make?

[stuthemong]

Waitrose do catering selections, ask for the booklet instore

[Cas_P]

Smoked oysters on water crackers with lemon
Smoked salmon filled with boursin and wrapped into small rolls (I invented that(afaik) and it's soooo good!)
mini pavlova's
pineapple and cheese
mini quiche's
king prawns
if you like 'different' then how about tapas?

[toasty]

Blinis with smoked salmon, creme fraiche, fake caviar (real if you're very flush) and chives. Very easy to do, looks good and tastes very very moreish.

[Dupont666]

on a more serious note, look up these:

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/food/mealideas/cooking...

http://uktv.co.uk/food/stepbystep/aid/536610

http://www.globalchefs.com/recipe/appetizer/web/ap...

http://www.globalchefs.com/recipe/appetizer/web/ap...

http://www.globalchefs.com/recipe/appetizer/web/ap...

if you do any of that traditional crap you should be shot and disowned?

[Rav]

Find your local costco and pre-order the food before you go away.
It will be ready to collect when you return all ready on plates.

Sorted.

[The Moose]

My sister does sushi and other similar products for events like yours. Reasonable pricing as well!!

If you are interested, PM me some details such as the number of people and dates etc if you would like a price??

Cheers

The Moose

[Cara Van Man]

Have you considered the 'bucket of popcorn lucky dip' trick?

[AndyAudi]

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Food-to-Order/b/725...

Are not too bad

[Romanymagic]

We often do this kind of thing and actually have a family and friend gathering to celebrate a 1st year birthday in a weeks time. I normally do food that will complement the food being done on the bbq. So for example I would make up:

cajun potato wedges (of my own devising) and make a blue cheese dip and a salsa dip
new potatoes (in next weeks case baby jersey royals) smothered in butter and chopped chives, mint and rosemary
pasta in sauce, normally I would make a tomato, garlic and onion pasta and a creamy mushroom pasta and have a variety of salads with different dressings
lots of garlic bread and bread sticks
taco chips layered and smothered with guacomole, salsa, jalapeno peppers, cheese and sour cream.
Potato skins (of my own devising) filled with cheese and bacon bits
rice with peas, and chopped sweet peppers
Stuffed and roasted sweet peppers. Stuff with tuna mix, mushroom mix etc.
oven roasted tomato halves covered with extra virgin olive oil

Always goes down really well. I tend to make everything up on the morning and as I am cooking on the bbq, Mrs RM brings the bits and bobs out, then I can just concentrate on cooking the meat.

Edited by Romanymagic on Friday 12th June 16:08

Edited by Romanymagic on Friday 12th June 16:09

[markomah]

Two I really like at this time of year:-

Cherry tomatoes sliced half-way through from the top downwards, with a little piece of decent quality buffalo mozzarella and a shred of basil leaf pushed into the cut. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle (lightly) with sea salt. Make sure you have lots of napkins handy!

Mange touts, lightly cooked - slit them open and put in a teaspoonful of good quality crab meat mixed with a little mayonnaise, very finely chopped ginger and a splash of lime juice. Crunchy and very more-ish!

[Mobile Chicane]

Looks like you're going to be short of time. Making canapés takes ages.

Personally I'd stock up on the frozen stuff from Waitrose, augmented by salted almonds, olives, frazzled chorizo etc, plus the tomato and crabmeat ideas ^^^ which sound lush.

[miniman]

Big pack of ready-made blinis, give them 2 minutes each side under the grill
Mayo, add a good dollop of horseradish and a squeeze of lemon
Mayo mix on blini, smoked salmon on top