If I Wrote a Cookbook....Finger Food and Canapes

I'm going to spend a few days giving you my favourite recipes. This will be my 'If I wrote a cookbook series'. These are the recipes that would be in my book, if I wrote one.

I'll start with finger food and canapes and recipes that I love to serve at my parties. 

I love having parties, I love making up a menu, I love preparing the food, I love watching people eat my food, I love it all (maybe not the clean up, but even that's okay).

I don't like rushed parties, so my favourite party time is a Sunday afternoon where people arrive around 1, and we have the whole afternoon to sit around. My last party was my son's 18th and it ended at midnight, so we really sit around. But I love it, even though it is an effort and it gets tiring, I love it.

I love to have finger food and canapes at my parties, to get a party started, something bite size to serve with drinks.

Now when planning my party I make sure I pick some recipes that can be made days in advance, some things that I can make the day before and a few things that are made on the day, so I am not doing too much on the party day. And I allocate jobs if I can. My husband for instance loves to chop things, so I get him busy on the day with prepping food for me, and he is always in charge of getting the drinks cold and serving them on the day. My mum is amazing, she arrives at the party and she's straight in the kitchen, and I've usually allocated her things to cook. And people like to help out, well most people, so if someone offers to help, give them something to do.

So here are my favourite finger food and canape recipes that would be in my cookbook, if I wrote one.

Prawn and Corn Cakes: These are amazingly delicious. They are so simple to make, and a true crowd pleaser. I have been making these for years, I make them for most of my parties and they are gone so quickly. I always double the recipe as I know they will be eaten. For parties I like to make them smallish as it makes them easier to eat as finger food. 

Tomato and Basil Bruschetta: Another family favourite, I actually make this all the time, party or no party as my daughter loves it. This is simple to make and is so light and fresh, a perfect bite to have with drinks. 

Spinach and Ricotta Rolls: These are great at parties, not only because they are simple to make and taste amazing, but they can be made in advance, frozen and pulled out to bake when needed. But you know what if you don't have freezer space they are quick to make on the day. This is something I always have in the freezer.

Taramasalata Bites: I love these, they look great, they taste great and everything is made for you, there is no cooking involved here, you just assemble three store bought ingredients minutes before you need them. This is great canape to offload to a guest that asks "can I help", you show them how to make one and then they make the rest for you.

Mussels in a Vinaigrette Dressing: This is a new recipe and has yet to make the party scene at my house. This one is my husband's creation and it is delicious. You can either barbecue or cook the mussels on the stove top. Then once they've opened you add the dressing and you get the most delicious mussel ever. This is one of my favourite things to eat.

Oysters the Way I Love Them: This is another recipe from my husband. I love oysters natural, however, by adding a few simple fresh ingredients to oysters, they become amazing oysters. I can never stop at one here. This is perfect for me with a glass of sparkling wine.

Mini Quiches: These involve a little bit of work, but are by no means hard to make. They are bite sized and the perfect party food. These are delicious and well worth the effort.

Chicken Liver Pate: I love pate, every mouthful is creamy, smooth, delicious and amazing. This is one of those things you put on the table with some crusty bread and some cornichons and you just watch your guests keep going back for more. This is another one of my favourite things to eat.

Salmon Rillettes: I keep repeating myself, but here is another canape that I love. It is so moreish, once you start it, you keep going back for more. I would serve this at a party with drinks and just watch your guests go for it.

Fresh Guacamole: The easiest most delicious dip on the planet for me. This is made in minutes, tastes great and everyone loves it. Serve it with vegetable sticks if you prefer, but I like it with corn chips, some of guests like it with bread. Sometimes I don't add the tomatoes, but most times I do, as I love the tomatoes in it.

Gyoza (Pot Stickers): Oh the Gyoza, this is truly the ultimate finger food. These are so packed full of flavour and so moorish, watch your guests get excited by this one. Now they look difficult, but after you get the knack of making them, they become very easy to make. Now I have yet to do so, but these can be made in advance and frozen, so they are perfect for parties. These are simple, these are delicious and this is something you really need to try.

Artichoke Spinach Dip: This dip is delicious. Super easy to make and my whole family absolutely loves it. You can prepare it in advance, then bake just before serving, so it is a great party dip.

Smoked Salmon and Caper Pizzas: I love smoked salmon and when you team it with ricotta and horseradish cream you get one perfect little bite. This is a great canape and is very easy to make.

Roast Beef Canapes: this is a new addition to my party table and came about when I had some left over steak that I wanted to use up the next day. The steak with the capsicum with the horseradish mayonnaise is one of the most delicious bites I have ever had. I love this and will never be upset if I have left over steak again. For parties I cook the steak the day before, slice it up and then on party day you just assemble the canape. This is another great one to give to the guest that asks 'can I help".

Crumbed Prawns: This is my families version of party food. I have been to so many parties growing up where crumbed prawns were served, it is staple in our party scene. They are great for parties as they are bite size, crisp and delicious.

Smoked Salmon Pancake Rolls: These are amazing, one of my favourite things to eat. A hit whenever I make them. They are delicate and delicious, you can never stop at one and the best thing you make them day before which makes things easier on party day.

Buffalo Wings: These buffalo wings are delicious, very easy to make and are a real crowd pleaser. They are baked not fried.  For parties this is truly simple, quick to make, party food. And served with sour and cream and sweet chilli sauce, I absolutely loved it. And partries are always better when there are chicken wings served.

Zucchini Slice: This is delicious, this is moreish, I cannot stop at one slice after I make this. My husband loves it, my kids love it, my mother loves it, I just don't know anyone who has tried it that doesn't love it. And it's so easy to make. this is perfect bite size party food.

Now these next two are not finger food or canapes, but I like to serve at the beginning of a party. As I serve small plates with finger food and canapes anyway, you just make sure you have a few forks available when you serve these.

Cabbage and Prawn Salad: This is a lovely salad, it looks festive and tastes great with very little effort. It adds a little freshness to the table. This is something I grew up on, my mum made it all the time,  and now I have continued making it for my own family and friends. If my mum is at the party, she's in charge of this one.

Octopus and Potato Salad: Another one of my mum's great salads that she taught me how to make. I recently served this at my last party and it was loved by everyone. My mum has taught me how to make the most tender octopus, it melts in your mouth, now I am happy to share this with you.

So there you have it, my favourite finger food and canape recipes. It is not in any order, they are just my go to recipes when I'm planning a party, it is food my family and friends love. 

Enjoy!