Xmas BBQ finger food & nibblies - ideas?

[lj1977]

Hi there
we are hosting our annual Christmas party this year for friends. We usually do evening cocktail type party but with so many kids around we decided to go family friendly and have an arvo bbq this year.
I wondered if any of you have some great ideas for finger foods and snacks that i could use?
So far doing sandwhiches, mini quiches, mini muffins, cheese and fruit platters.... all ok but pretty boring so far!!
Its also going to be a pretty warm day about 28 so need to keep that in mind i guess.

Hope someone out there can give me some fresh inspiration to save me wading through recipe books!

Thanks
Lisa

[Amberlea]

*Cob loaf dip
*BBQ corn cobs
*Do it yourself Souvlakis (kebabs) - have the flat bread out with cooked meat and salad and let people make their own.
*Corn/Vege Fritters
*Jacket potatoes with butter and garlic wrapped in foil and BBQ'd
*Cheese, Kabana and cocktail onion skewers

Individual salads : make up normal amounts of potato salad, coleslaw etc and put into plastic cups (great for kids so they dont have to juggle a plate)

[DellaWellaWoman]

Teriyaki chicken wings - just throw some chicken wings in a bowl with enough teriyaki marinade to coat, leave overnight (or at least a couple of hours) and either cook in the oven or on the BBQ.

Swap teriyaki for any other marinade you like for variety.

[charlis_mum]

Mexican salsa dip is great, although it can get messy (don't know the real name). Empty a packet of corn chips into a lasagne dish, cover with a jar or 2 of salsa, can of kidney beans (if you loke them) and sourcream/guacomole. Top with grated cheese. Mmmm very yummy.

[RTCsMum]

Fresh rice paper chicken or prawn rolls are easy to make and are great on a warm day.

Also you can buy little pastry cups at Woolies I often fill these with:-

Tandoori chicken (cooked the night before, just use some tandoori paste mixed through chopped chicken breast and throw it in the oven) topped with some yoghurt with fresh mint stirred through it.

OR Philly cream cheese with dill mixed through topped with smoked salmon and a tiny wedge of lemon


Also on mini toasts you can:-

spread with mustard add slice of roast beef from the deli then top with some caramalised onion

OR spread with cranberry jelly add sliced turkey from the deli top with little slice of brie very Christmasy!


These all look impressive and are sooooo easy to throw together!! and the great thing is you can cook, chop prepare it all the day before and then just throw it all together an hour or so before the guests arrive and your not in the kitchen through the party!!!

[camsma]

Feta toasts
Slice a french stick about 1 inch thick and spread with pizza sauce / tomato puree. Ive also used a jar of tomato tapenade that I found in the supermarket for these - top with tomatoes (halved cherry toms are good), or anything else you like, maybe sliced mushrooms, onion etc and then crumble over some feta. Put on an oven tray and in a 180 degree oven for 10 mins or until the cheese has melted. If the kiddies arent keen on feta, grated tasty cheese is good too.

Banana and Bacon Wraps.
Chop bananas in three, wrap each piece in a rasher of bacon and secure with a cocktail stick or a wooden skewer that has been soaked for a while in water to make sure it doesnt burn. Barbeque until the bacon is cooked, turning occassionally, or you can whack them in the oven, whatevers easier. They make great finger foods. These are lovely with a splash of tabasco sauce is you like it spicey. I tried it once with slices of salami instead of the bacon when i didn;t have any and that was yummy too - especially if its the hot salami.

Mini burgers
Take 400g minced beef, 2 grated carrots, 1 onion finely chopped, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp barbeque sauce, half a cup of grated cheese and mix together in a bowl. You might need to adjust the amount of sauce and breadcrumbs to get the right consistency. Roll about 1 tbsps worth in to a ball and flatten slightly in the palm of you hand to make little patties. Refridgerate for at least half and hour before cooking. Then just barbeque for 4- 5 mins each side or until cooked through. You can also just pan fry them or do them in the oven. (these also make great fingers foods for littlies and you can hide the vegies in them if they are chopped uf finely enough! My little boy loves them)

[TeenyT]

Mini Hotdogs are easy and you can either make them up before you go or put the frankfurts in when you get there. You just need some small oblong dinner rolls (same shape as those cook at home dinner rolls), cocktail franks, Lettuce, grated cheese and tomato sauce/mustard. make a cut in the buns, place a lettuce leave in the groove. Put in a frank, top with cheese and a squiggle of sauce and/or mustard! you can serve the franks warm or cold ( not hot - wilts the lettuce :thumbsdown: ).
Good idea having a BBQ Xmas!!

[M O P]

Recently to a friend's barbie I took a platter of strawberries and dried apricots (I wanted marshmallows as well but forgot them) with a tub of chocolate dipping sauce in the centre. It went down a treat.

[jembelina]

sweet treats - choc coated strawberries and cherries
choc nut clusters - melt your choc melts and add slivered almonds, drop spoonfuls onto a tray lined with baking paper adn refrigerate till set - these are so easy and yummy - and look like you went to more effort than you did!!!

[mama hen]

I like to make up a pesto for a refreshing dip.

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 Cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbp Pine nuts or walnuts
3 garlic cloves - minced or 3 tbp crushed garlic

Place basil in a small batches in food processor or whip until well chopped (3/4 cup at a time).
Add nuts and garlic - blend again.
Add Parmesan cheese while slowing add olive oil.
Process basil pesto until it form a thick smooth paste.

Keeps in fridge for 1 week or can be frozed for a few months.

Also nice if you add sun-dried tomato as well.

Serve with rice crackers.

Always a hit for a summer bbq, cheap and quick.