Festive Finger Foods

The holidays are often a busy time of year. Many keen cooks just don't have the spare hours to spend in the kitchen whipping up tasty treats. With a bit of forethought and organization, the most interesting dishes can be quickly assembled. They are easy to store, too, making producing a wonderful spread at the drop of a hat. Appetizing, visually stimulating, easy to prepare and store; guests will marvel at the delights they are offered.

Meatballs are normally considered a main course, but they make fabulous appetizers, too. Simply make a favorite recipe, and put them onto tapas dishes or other small serving plates with a toothpick or cocktail stick in them. They can be used as an introduction to a larger meal, or simply served as snacks. Traditionally this is an idea that comes from the American south, but it's sure to be a hit anywhere.

Stuffed mushrooms are another favorite food that can be easy to prepare. Remove the stalk from large button mushrooms, and stuff the cap with favorite fillings. Cream cheese that has been made interesting with the addition of garlic and herbs is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. It softens and intensifies in flavor in the oven, especially when topped with shredded sharp cheese. For an unusual twist, try using goat cheese instead of cream cheese.

Crackers have long been a favored quick snack. Toppings can make them seem even more festive. Cold meats and cheeses are the usual standby, but other more interesting additions can make the humble cracker seem much more seasonal. Try goat cheese here, too, or push out the boat with additions such as olives. Feta cheese marinated in herbs such as rosemary and garlic can add a luxurious surprise to what was once considered a mundane dish.

When it comes to food that can be eaten with the fingers, interesting additions to breads and crackers are readily available. Polenta, pastry, and other grain based flatbreads can be used as scoops, or the base of an interesting combination of flavors. Try polenta wedges with tomato themed toppings such as salsas, marinades, or tapenades. Melba toast makes a nice base for fish dishes, such as smoked salmon or trout, with an herbal mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce and bit of dill or parsley garnish.

The humble scone can also be a very comfortable on a snack tray. Plain scones can accompany nearly any spread or topping, and with a bit of creative cooking, the scone itself can be either sweet or savory.  At this time of the year, many people seem a bit overwhelmed by the vast selection of rich foods that are available for consumption. Sometimes a trip into something a bit plain and ordinary is appreciated. The basic scone recipe can be dressed up or down, as the occasion demands of it.

Fruits and vegetables make a welcome addition to buffet. When the surrounding dishes are all rich and tempting, sometimes the humble carrot, stalk of celery, or slice of apple is a welcome change to the palate. This doesn't mean that they have to be plain or boring, though. Try offering fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, spears of lettuce leaves, and grapes on skewers with a dish of Waldorf salad dressing.

Although not technically a food that is finger compatible, soups still make a hearty and warming addition to the snack tray. Simple soups, such as homemade cream of tomato, or butternut squash puree, can easily be put into a crock pot or tureen. Place seasonally themed mugs around the pot, and a ladle within it, and guests will soon be helping themselves to something soothing. If the cook is feeling adventurous, round bread cobs can be baked and then hollowed out, and used as soup containers instead of mugs or bowls.

Catering during Christmas can sometimes seem a very daunting task, but with a bit of forward planning, it can be a howling success. Remember that the people whom you are entertaining may be looking for an oasis of light food after all the rest of the season's luxuries. Plan the menu to be simple but interesting, lay it out in a neat and festive pattern, and the finger buffet is sure to be a howling success.