Easy Festive Party Treats

Christmas may be a little different this year but that doesn't mean we can't make room for some easy festive party treats. I've chosen some great party nibbles that's are just right for sharing with a few friends and family. Plus you will find the #CookBlogShare linky for week 47.

Welcome to #CookBlogShare the weekly linky for all things foodie, hosted here on Recipes Made Easy the last Tuesday of the month, at Lost in Food on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and with our guests hosts on the remaining Tuesdays.

Its the place where food bloggers can share their latest posts and for you the reader to find new food blogs and recipes to enjoy.

November in a Nutshell

Regulars will know I like to start my #CookBlogShare hostings sharing a little of what I have been up to both in real life and on my blogs over the past month.

It's hard to believe that we are almost at the end of November and unlike earlier in the year the weeks seem to be flying past in a flash.

November has been a bit of a month for change. My birthday is at the beginning of the month and this year it fell just a couple of days before the 2nd lockdown in England. I could have still gone out to celebrate, but instead spent the day helping to move my son and his girlfriend from our house where they had lived during lockdown into the first place of their own.

In the evening they cooked me dinner in the new pad which was a lovely way to end the day. So for the rest of November my lockdown has been much more like many peoples first experience of it, ie., home alone (Mr B still goes out to work).

I have to confess that in the past I didn't think much about Christmas until December at the earliest but with the blog that is just not practical, and I start making some plans in October. So come November it was time for me to do some updating of my earlier festive recipes including my Christmas pudding just in time for stir up Sunday this weekend past.

Christmas pudding recipe was one of the very first recipes I posted on the blog, whilst it was still experimental and I had not told anyone about it. I knew nothing of SEO and the pictures were taken on my old iPhone 5. As a result the recipe has just sat a little ignored over the years so I thought this year it was time to give it a complete overhaul with some new images and lots of helpful hints and tips.

An upside to my son moving out is that I have regained my dining room table (previously taken over as a home office during the week by my son and partner ) which has meant I was also able to start writing and shooting some new festive recipes. Now I just have to find time finish write the rest up and post them! It's going to be a busy December!

Easy Festive Treats

Of course I'm not the only one writing or updating festive posts and last week saw some delicious treats shared. While none of us knows exactly how we will be able to celebrate Christmas this year it does look like the restrictions will be eased a little to allow us at least some socialising.

Any parties will be small this year, with just a few guests, but I think that's all the more reason to make a few festive treats.

Toast topped with something yummy can be a simple and easy party nibble to make and as the Gluten-Free Alchemist points out they also make great TV snacks too and she shares lots of tasty topping ideas which will leave you spoilt for choice.

Easy Toast Appetisers – Gluten Free Alchemist

Ideal for parties and entertaining and yet so easy, they make a perfect TV snack too. Make with your favourite bread and top your way..

or for a festive theme bruschetta try my Christmas crostini topped with gammon, brie and cranberry sauce.

Christmas crostini

Topped with ingredients that you will are likely to have around at Christmas, these crostini are the perfect festive nibble.

Puff pastry is great for making easy party bites

Puff Pastry Party Bites - Gluten Free Alchemist

Puff Pastry Bites are simple to make party pastries. They look amazing, taste fabulous and are incredibly versatile. Whether gluten free or not, they are quick to throw together using shop-bought puff pastry, but will turn heads with their simplicity and deliciousness.

Pesto is a staple in our house and we always have a pot in the fridge which is handy for making my puff pastry pesto Christmas tree which is another is a fun festive treat.

Pesto Christmas Tree

This Christmas tree shaped savoury pastry is really easy to make. It makes a fun centre piece for your festive buffet spread.

Cheesy biscuits are always a good choice and The Peachick Bakery shared their recipe for an easy vegan version.

Easy Vegan Crackers

The perfect dairy free nibbles for picnics, or parties. Quick, super simple and made with just 3 ingredients..

I don't know about you but I'm a little bit partial to a sausage on a stick and my party sausages three ways are always popular with the family.

Party sausages -Three Ways

These easy to make party sausages can be made with one of three glazes.  So simple so tasty.

A few nuts are always great to nibble with drinks.

Honey Roasted Cashew Nuts – Searching for Spice

These easy honey roasted cashew nuts are perfect for snacking on and are especially good to make around Christmas time. They make delicious party food, snacks or even edible gifts

Dips are always popular at parties. No double dipping! You could serve them in small individual bowls rather than one large dish.

Feta Cheese Dip – Family Friends Food

Quick and easy feta cheese dip is delicious with vegetable sticks, crackers, crisps or pretzels. A perfect party appetiser or snack.

Carrot and Goats Cheese Dip

A quick and easy dip.

For more substantial party food you could cook a gammon, it is traditional at Christmas and can be served hot or cold.

Honey Glaze Ham – Curly's Cooking

Amazingly moist gammon with a deliciously sweet and crisp crust. You will all be fighting for the end piece!

or this Cheese bacon and Turkey quiche (also great to use up left over turkey after Christmas day).

Cheese, Bacon and Turkey quiche – A Farmers Girl Kitchen

Cheese, Bacon & Turkey Quiche combines a crisp cheese pastry case with a rich creamy filling using cooked turkey, bacon, and soft French Brie cheese.

For a sweet treat you could make a plate of homemade mince pies or for something a little different try these Cranberry and Marzipan pies.

Cranberry and Marzipan Pies – Only Crumbs Remain

These individual sweet cranberry and marzipan pies are packed with festive flavours and make a delicious change to the traditional festive mince pie.

And finally for a little festive tipple try this festive gin – Cheers

Cranberry and clementine gin

This easy to make sweetened flavoured gin is delicious served neat over ice or with tonic. or lemonade. It makes a beautiful gift for gin lovers. Make at least 2 weeks before required.

#CookBlogShare 2020 week 47

And now welcome to #CookBlogShare 2020 a weekly link party where we share recipes, comment on each other’s recipes and generally enjoy all things food. If you’ve got a recipe to share, this is the place to do it!

The linky is open for one week and I look forward to seeing what you have been cooking up.

Non-bloggers – skip to the bottom of the page and click on the thumbnails that catch your eye to take you to the website where the recipe can be found. Remember they will be added to as the week goes on, so don’t forget to pop back and take a look again later.

 Bloggers Linking up this week?

It is easy to link up and you can link up any foodie posts you have. Both old and new posts are welcome as long as they have not been linked to #CookBlogShare before. All you need to do is:

• Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions. You can link up to 4 posts.
• We would love it if you add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post but if you prefer not to add the badge that is ok too (Code below – for WordPress copy and paste the code below into the text view of your post or a custom html block if using Gutenberg). BUT please link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!)
• Comment on some of the other recipes linked up here (at least 2 for each link added but the more you can the better) and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
• Plus comment on either this post or one of the posts labelled HOST in the linky.

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Just to remind you, by joining in you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a roundup and on social media if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!

Don’t forget to add  #CookBlogShare to your Instagram post and check out/comment on what others are posting on the  #CookBlogShare feed.

You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.

I will visit every post linked up, pin the recipes to our   #CookBlogShare group board and tweet the recipes.

If you wish, you can tweet me a link to your recipe  @recipecrumbs as well as (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts  @lostinf00d using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet all that we see. Although if I’m totally honest I’m not that active on Twitter.

I will also comment on as many recipes as possible Most times that everyone but sometimes life gets in the way. Even if I do not have the time to comment on every post please rest assured, we really appreciate you taking the time to link your recipes and share others. We love having you as part of our fabulous #CookBlogShare community.

SO, IT’S OVER TO YOU. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN COOKING!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Next week’s #CookBlogShare week 40 will be hosted by Louise at A Strong Cup of Coffee. See you there!