You don't have to be a whiz in the kitchen to whip up great food. Often, even those of us who love to cook don't have the time to make every element of a dish by hand. But, if you're having a get together, remember that people are there for your company and not your food.... but if you do love to cook, try to get as much as possible done ahead of time otherwise you won't enjoy your company, no one wants to come to a party and watch the hostess slaving away in the kitchen to make their yummy treats (speaking from experience here!). Have a bunch of freezer treats on hand in case you run out of time, like PC Samosas. President's Choice makes a pretty decent range of frozen hors d'oeuvres. Delegate if you have to, I know I like to help when I am asked.
SO, here are a few easy cheesy ideas for canapes using ready-made products. They may not be very original, but they will be very yummy and no one will be complaining. You can prep these all in advance and then just pop them in the oven when you want to serve them. You don't even have to heat them up, they are delicious warm or cold!
Slice baguettes into rounds and toast lightly (alternative easy step: Use Ace baguette crisps, or some other store brough appetizer base, like mini toasts, or rusks). Or Triscuits (now it feels like the eighties, when I thought Triscuits were the height of sophistication.... but they are tasty so use what YOU like).....
Making cheesy canapes is so easy, and the variety is almost endless!! Here are a few variations on a theme I tried recently. I used our new Applewood Smoked Cheddar on Ace baguette crisps, (but use whatever base you like, such as baguettes sliced into thin rounds, pumpernickel bread, your favourite crackers... or .... triscuits :)
Variation 1 was ham and applewood cheddar:Variation 2 was ham and applewood cheddar with thinly sliced Granny Smith apple
Variation 3 was applewood cheddar and sliced apple
Variation 4 was applewood cheddar and PC bacon marmalade
My fave was just the cheddar and apple, but they were all pretty good
Next, I tried our new Mexicana cheddar a few ways, in Scoops tortilla chips.
Variation 2 was PC white corn and bean salsa with Mexicana cheddar and slivers of red and green pepper (this was done before Christmas, I just forgot I did all of this)
Variation 3 was just Mexicana Cheddar and and slivers of red and green pepper.
Here are some other pairing ideas (basically, any cheese with a sweet or savory jelly, or fruit, is going to work pretty well!!)
- Slice of Derby Sage Cheddar, or Porter Cheddar
- a blob of Sarah's caramelized onion compote
- little pile of shaved roast beef
- slice of Guiness Cheddar or Cahill's Whiskey Cheddar
- these would be great on Irish soda bread or mini Yorkshire puddings, if you have the time and ambition (PC mini Yorkshires are proving very difficult to order these days!!)
- Emmental, Brie or Camembert
- Sarah's Cherry and Almond compote
- Thinly sliced Kielbasa or Polish Coil
- Frico Spiced Gouda
- Swiss Gruyere or PC Aged White Cheddar (5 year aged is my fave, so nice and crumbly)
- Sarah's Caramelized Onion Compote
- Any soft cheese, like Brie, Camembert, Cendre des Anges, or Goat Cheese
- PC Cabernet Fig Jelly
- One of my all-time favourite cheese treats, made by a friend one Easter, is dates, pit removed, and the cavity filled with Feta cheese.... the salty creaminess of Feta is a perfect match with rich, sticky-sweet dates!!!
In Aisle 4, you can find a range of PC jellies that are great complements to cheese, such as the Cabernet Fig Jelly, Riesling Jelly, Passionfruit Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, Mint Jelly, and more.
Other great things with cheese....honey or maple syrup, and of course, fresh fruit!!!
I'd love to hear your ideas too, so if you have something you love to make, send the recipe by message and I just might blog about it!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy, and very super awesome New Year!
