If you're planning a party or have friends
coming over for lunch or dinner then a cold buffet is a good choice especially
if you want to be the host with the most and not a sweaty chef leaning over a
hot oven for the evening. Here are some
suggestions that are relatively easy to prepare and could be made in advance.
Mini Quiches
There are great and can be made using a
whole host of savoury ingredients such as Stilton and fried leeks, caramelised
red onion and goats cheese, cheddar and onion with herbs, sundried tomato, feta
cheese and basil, spinach and wensleydale.
The basic recipe for the egg quiche is
normally about 400ml of double cream to 4 eggs. Buy some ready made shortcrust
pastry, line a flan tin for a large quiche or cut out large enough circles to
line a muffin tin and make lots of small quiches (which is what I did). Put the cheese and other fillings in each
case then pour in the liquid of cream and eggs and bake for about 10 to 15
minutes.
Chicken Kebabs
These are so simple are look really
tasty. Simply get some boned and skinned
chicken breast, cut in to chunks and
marinate in a blend of lime juice and zest, a little olive oil, some lemon
thyme (in season at the moment) and finally, some toasted sesame seeds. Leave to marinate for about an hour then feed
about 3 chunks each on to a skewer and cook in the oven for about 10 to 15
minutes. Serve with some hummus or
yoghurt dip.
Lamb Kofte
Mix some lamb mince with grated onion,
chopped thyme, salt and coarse ground black pepper, paprika and a little chilli
if you wish. Leave for about an hour
then form into middle finger size koftes.
Cook in the oven and then push skewers into each one for an effective
finish. Serve with hummus, salad and
cous cous.
Accompaniments
There are many things you can do but I've
always found things such as Roasted vegetable cous cous with toasted pine nuts
always goes down really well. As well as
Potato salad using jersey royal potatoes (in season now) and dressed with a
simple olive oil and lemon juice dressing seasoned with salt, pepper and chives
or parsley. Avoid things such as rice as
once it is served bacteria can form quite quickly and you don't want all your
guests getting ill! Also, things such as
pasta salads can work but I find they go a little stodgy later in the day and
don't look that great. Try serving
Rocket leaves mixed with other lettuce leaf and drizzled with some balsamic
glaze and topped with shavings of parmesan.
Likewise a salad with toasted seeds and nuts and pomegranate can also
work really well.
