Easy Peasy and Super Tasty

24-11-2014 Simple and tasty to treats to serve at your party  - yum!

Bloody Mary shots with horseradish:
For 10 shots mix 700ml tomato juice with 50ml vodka, juice from 1 lemon and a good splash of Tabasco and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce in a jug. Season then chill. To serve, pour into 10 shot glasses, add a thin cucumber/celery stick to each as a stirrer, and top with a small spoon of creamed horseradish.

Fig & blue cheese skewers:
Skewer wedges of fig and cubes of blue cheese onto small cocktail sticks or skewers, then drizzle with a little runny honey and scatter with thyme leaves to serve.

Red pepper, walnut & goat’s cheese palmiers:
These mini French pastry swirls with soft cheese are a great cheat's canapé - quick, simple and stunning
Ingredients:

• 500g pack puff pastry
• 100g soft goat's cheese
• 200g roasted red peppers from a jar
• 50g walnut pieces

Method:
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the puff pastry to a large rectangle. Spread the goat’s cheese over the pastry. Roughly chop the peppers and walnut pieces, then sprinkle over the cheese. Roll up one edge of the pastry into the centre, then repeat with the opposite edge to meet in the middle. Cut into 20 slices, place on a baking tray and bake for 10-12 mins until golden.

Best Mexican Guacamole

This recipe that will change your Guacamole standards forever. This is the easiest and most beautiful Mexican guacamole ever. The pomegranate seeds are the secret to its unique flavour.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados, peeled and chopped
• 2 fresh jalapeño or Scotch bonnet chillies
• 3 limes, juiced
• sea salt to taste
• 8 tablespoons pomegranate

In a food processor, combine the avocado, chillies, lime juice and salt. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, gently stir in 4 tablespoons of the pomegranate seeds and top with the rest of them.If you dont have a food processor simply mash with a fork for a more rustic feel.

Quick Cheese Straws:
Delicious cheesy sticks, perfect for dipping, just as good on their own - ready in under 20 minutes and can be made in advance.
Ingredients:

• 350g pack ready-rolled puff pastry
• four handfuls grated parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
• handful flour, to roll pastry on

Method:
heat oven to 220c/fan 200c/gas 7. Unroll a puff pastry, scatter over a couple of handfuls of grated Parmesan, then fold in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut into 1cm strips, then twist the strips 3-4 times. Lay on a baking sheet, scatter over more cheese and bake for 12 mins, or until golden. Leave to cool, then keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days