Christmas is party time. If you’re hosting a festive get together during Christmas week, or a big bash to see in the New Year, planning your party buffet should be high on your ‘to do’ list.
So if you’re just looking for a bit of inspiration, our three simple party food ideas are just the ticket. Plus each dish is really cheap and easy to make…
Nibbles: Cumin, lemon & garlic chicken wings
For the marinade, mix 2 crushed garlic cloves, the zest and juice of a lemon, 1tbsp cumin seeds and 2 tbsp olive oil in a dish. Take 12 chicken wings, cut each wing at the knuckle then dip each mini-wing into your marinade. Cover and store in the fridge for at least an hour.
Bake your chicken wings on an oven tray for 50 minutes 190/375/gas mark 5 until crisp. Drizzle 1tbsp honey over the wings for the final 10 minutes of cooking. Serve on a platter with paper napkins.
Hearty grub: Pasta shells in a cheesy Christmas leftover sauce
Cook 500g conchiglie pasta in salted water, drain and place back into the saucepan. Add 50g salted butter, 200g mascarpone cheese, 150g grated cheddar cheese and 50g parmesan cheese.
Mix well, add 1 glass of full fat milk and return saucepan to the stove on a low heat, stirring until you get a creamy sauce. Add 200g chopped turkey and stuffing leftovers, 3 tbsp flatleaf parsley and season with salt and ground black pepper. Mix and transfer it all into a large baking tray. Sprinkle 50g parmesan on top and bake for 15 minutes 180/350/gas mark 4 until the top is golden and crispy. Serve immed
iately.
Sweet kick: Baileys and chocolate cheesecake
Melt 100g butter in a pan, add 250g crushed chocolate digestive biscuits and mix well until the biscuits have absorbed the butter. Remove from the heat and press into the bottom of a lined 18cm/7in spring form tin. Place in the refrigerator to set for one hour. Meanwhile for the filling, lightly whip 600g cream cheese in a bowl, then beat in 25ml Baileys and 100ml icing sugar. Fold in 300ml whipped double cream and 100g grated chocolate. When smooth, spoon evenly on to your biscuit base.
Pop the whole thing back into the fridge for a further 2 hours. Once set, remove and decorate with whipped cream and cocoa powder dusted over the top. Or grate your favourite chocolate on the top instead. Serve immediately.
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