Get your dinner party off to a great start with these quick and easy canapé ideas. All served on beautifully styled tableware from John Lewis and Partners – who have sponsored this post.
Did I REALLY just title this post ‘CANAPE ideas’?
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking ‘ Who are you, and what have you done with the real Medina?”. Ha, I don’t blame you but hear me out for a second!
Common knowledge: I LOVE eating, but when it comes to the actual cooking part – it’s one of those ‘chores’ I’d much prefer to pass on to someone else (usually my husband).
Not so common knowledge: I love hosting. And as cooking and hosting kind of go hand in hand, I just tend to push aside my dislike for the culinary arts and suck it up – for the greater good. The greater good being fabulous company, lots of laughs, endless board games (not twister mind you) , you name it.
Having friends and family over for intimate meals or full on dinner parties is something I’ve been doing a lot of recently (must be the change in weather). When you’re in hibernation mode, it just makes more sense to invite others over rather than eat out. And while I don’t celebrate Christmas, I do have a rather large family (I am one of 7 siblings), so there is always something to celebrate leading up to this festive season.
MODERN TABLE STYLING WITH JOHN LEWIS
John Lewis and Partners got in touch asking if I wanted to take part in their upcoming feasting campaign. The idea would be style some of their tableware products in a dining room setting.
To be honest, this couldn’t have come at a better time. John Lewis have a lovely range of quality products and since styling that furnished rental in Wembley, I’ve had my eye on their Fusion tableware collection for a while now!
Click linked text for product sources
I kept the styling minimal – and instead focused on using their products to compliment some of the features already in my dining room like the chalkboard wall. I ran a grey table runner down the length of the table to help soften and create a little flow.
The table centre piece is made up of 3 pillar candles in jars (please note for safety reasons, you will need to remove the candles from the jars if you wish to light them) decorated with pine cones .
I placed fancy linen napkins in copper rings atop contrasting dish ware. I chose a beautiful gold under plate topped with these stylish monochrome plates from the Fusion collection
To finish off the look, I added faux fur rugs to the metal chairs. They aren’t the comfiest for long periods of sitting.
And then I invited my sister over (who also happens to be a chef, lucky me) and together we thought up some canapé ideas for our next family meal. I love canapés because they require minimal skill and effort to make. They are also the perfect starter to any dinner party.
HERE ARE 5 QUICK AND EASY CANAPE IDEAS
Please note all ingredients have been sourced from Waitrose & Partners. Pop into your local store to purchase
1.GOATS CHEESE AND BEETROOT BRUSCHETTA
- Ingredients:
- 50g goats cheese
- 1 loaf of freshly baked french bread
- 1 beetroot
- 2 tsp veg oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh chopped chives
SOURCES: GIN GLASS TUMBLERS / OAK WOOD DISH
- Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180°c
- Dice the beetroot into 1 cm dice, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the veg oil. Roast in the oven for 7 minutes.
- Slice the bread into thick 2 cm slices
- Remove the outer skin from the goats cheese and whisk it until a smooth consistency is achieved.
- Spread the goats cheese on the bread, then top with goats cheese and chopped chives.
2. MINI GARLIC AND ONION ROASTED POTATOES (TOPPED WITH ALMONDS)
- Ingredients:
- 8 new potatoes
- 25g softened salted butter
- 1tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chives
- Almonds
- Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200°c
- Boil the new potatoes for approx. 8 minutes till soft in the centre
- Cut the potatoes in half and place on a baking tray
- Mix the garlic powder and butter together and brush over the potatoes
- Season with salt, pepper and drizzle with the veg oil
- Roast in the oven for 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy, then brush with more of the garlic butter and top with chopped chives and almonds
3. BRIE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CRANBERRY PUFF PASTRY
- Ingredients:
- 1 sheet rolled out Puff pastry
- 1/4 butternut squash
- 2 tbsp Cranberry sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato chutney
- 50g brie cheese
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 1 small Handful toasted almonds
- 1 beaten egg
- Method:
- Preheat the oven to 190°C.
- Peel then dice the butternut squash into small cubes, season with salt and pepper then drizzle with oil. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
- Cut the pastry into evenly sized circles and prick with a fork in the centre.
- Mix the cranberry sauce and tomato chutney together and spread onto the puff pastry leaving half a cm around the edges of the pastry.
- Slice the brie cheese into 1 cm thickness.
- Top the pastry with the butternut squash, brie cheese and chopped rosemary
- Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 10 minutes until golden.
- To serve top with more fresh rosemary and toasted almonds
4 FETA AND SWEET ONION STUFFED CUCUMBER
- Ingredients:
- 1 cucumber
- 2 tbsp onion chutney
- 50g feta cheese
- Method:
- Slice the cucumber length ways down the middle and scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
- Crumble the feta cheese and stuff it into the cucumber
- Top with the onion chutney.
- Slice the cucumber into 1 cm thick slices.
5. SMOKED AND POACHED SALMON CANAPES
Served as is from Waitrose and partners. They are super yummy!
Ohh and finally – mustn’t forget the cheeseboard. Kinda feel like every dinner party needs one!
And there you have it! Now to serve everything and pour a glass of bubbly !
***This post has been sponsored by John Lewis and Partners . I received products and payment for my time creating this post. I also received a Waitrose voucher for the canapé ideas . I only partner with brands I LOVE and think you will LOVE too! All ideas, photos and opinions are 100% my own.
