Grannymar

The party season is upon us once more and this week I am giving you some ideas for party nibbles to go with drinks.

Now another little tip from long long ago. On party nights my mother always had a great big pot of soup ready and sitting on the stove. As the party quietened down and was drawing to a close the soup was warmed and mammy insisted on all drivers having a cup full. Soon all the guests were sipping away and warming up inside before heading out into the cold of the night.

During the year I gave you Roasted Pepper Cookies a good match with Mothers Pâté – OK so it contained liver.

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Smoked Salmon Roll

2 tsps hot Horseradish cream

8ozs Smoked Salmon

8ozs Cream Cheese

4ozs unsalted butter

2 tblsps Lemon Juice

4 tblsps Single Cream

Put horseradish in a basin. Chop 2ozs of smoked salmon and add to the horseradish. Beat in the cheese, butter, lemon juice and cream. On greaseproof paper, lay out the remaining smoked salmon, overlapping to form a rectangle 10”x 4”. With wet hands shape the cheese mixture into a roll 10” long and place in the centre of the salmon. Fold the salmon edges around the cheese to enclose and roll tightly in the greaseproof paper.

To freeze: Place in plastic bag

To Use: Thaw for 1 hour then cut into ¾ inch slices. Put in the fridge until served (about 1½ hours)

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Olive Cheese Balls

Yield 3 dozen. Preheat the oven to 200°C

8ozs Cheddar Cheese grated

5ozs Plain Flour

4ozs Butter melted

Pimento Stuffed olives

½ teaspoon Salt

½ teaspoon Paprika

Drain olives well. Mix cheese and flour until crumbly. Add butter and mix well with a fork. Mould 1 tsp of dough around each olive and shape into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet. Cover and chill for 1 hour or longer. Bake for 15 minutes serve hot.