Saturday 27 December 2014

Christmas Canapes

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas, with congenial company, good food and manageable amounts of credit card debt.

Ours was low-key but extremely pleasant. All the people we would usually enjoy seeing over the Christmas period are in other countries this year, so it was just us and the cat. The company was definitely congenial.

The food was good too. On Christmas Eve we had drinks and substantial nibbles, and a roast on Christmas Day.

I was feeling like I'd fallen into a bit of a rut with my Christmas nibbles - I've been doing blue cheese mousse with brandied figs, and cauliflower puree with salmon roe for years, it seems. I mixed it up a little bit, without branching out too far.

We had Peter's Yard rye crispbreads with smoked salmon, horseradish cream and some chopped cornichon and capers.

I couldn't completely abandon the blue cheese and brandied figs, so I put them in little puff pastry parcels, along with some pistachios for crunch.

I borrowed Diana Henry's idea for pea pancakes with crab salad, but went much more Asian in the flavourings, seasoning them with coriander, shallots and lime juice.

And I filled little croustade cups with taramasalata and a pile of finely-diced cucumber salad, topping them with seared scallops. We drank delicious English sparkling wine and watched a Harry Potter movie. For me, the ideal Christmas Eve.
Do note the little curl of steam off the middle scallop. Paul is extremely proud of that photo

5 comments:

Arlene Delloro said...

What elegant canapes! I have decided that next year will bring a new approach to Christmas food. I have actually been tossing around the idea of a spread of appetizers (and maybe just a ham for those seeking more substantial fare). I am definitely going to try those fig croustades sometime soon. Beautiful!

Unknown said...

I love the scallops!

Taste of Beirut said...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family! Those little bites look just delectable and scrumptious.

grace said...

puff pastry parcels and pea pancakes, yum! so alliteratively delicious. :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

Arlene - it's a way I love to eat.

Sue - I think that is the best I have ever cooked a scallop!

Joumana - thank you so much!

Grace - I love a little alliteration!

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