Sprout bhajis? How to feed unexpected guests at Christmas and New Year
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Elevate the basics with cupboard staples and when it’s all finished store the leftovers quickly. Turning a dish from what you might have at the weekend to something special to impress guests can often be achieved just by adding something which is already in the fridge or cupboard.
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If you have bought a basic stuffing, you can add sausagemeat to make it more substantial, says Mimi Harrison, author of the Beat the Budget cookbook. A packet of cocktail sausages can be improved by cooking them in mango chutney or cranberry sauce. Or do the same with some regular sausages that you have sliced up.
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“To make mini brie and cranberry sausage rolls, you can get eight sausages for about £1.80, puff pastry for £1.20, brie for £1.70 and use just a little of the cranberry sauce that you’ve bought for Christmas,” says Harrison. “Baked camembert, which can be served with a crusty loaf, costs just under a fiver and can be jazzed up with cupboard staples such as honey and paprika.”.
She says halloumi can be mixed with sweet chilli sauce and some spices to make a 20-minute canape. Baileys, a Christmas tipple in many homes, can be poured on top of ice-cream, then sprinkled with chocolate for a decadent desert. Or mix 100ml of the liqueur with a shot of strong coffee and some ice – and some optional vodka – to make an espresso Martini. Asda has bottles for £10.
