The countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway, with less than four weeks until the big day. Playing host at Christmas can be stressful and downright hard work, but what if it could be a lot easier? If you’re playing host this Christmas relax, thanks to our friends at Young’s we’ve outlined some simple-to-follow recipes you can wow your guests with this festive season!

Mini Filo Fish Pie Stars (makes 12)

We kick off proceedings with this Mini Filo Fish Pie Stars recipe. This gem of a recipe is simple to make and guaranteed to cause a stir at any party. Perfect as finger food or as part of a buffet, these mini fish pies are a sure fire winner – take a look at the recipe below.

Ingredients

• 6 sheets filo pastry
• Melted butter for brushing
• 1 pack Young’s 4 cod in parsley or butter sauce 560g
• Parsley (frozen)
• Seasoned crushed croutons (optional for topping)

 Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6

To make the filo cases

• Cut each sheet of filo pastry into four squares, brush with butter and layer two pieces of square filo at different angles (to create a star shape) in a greased bun/Yorkshire pudding tray and bake in the oven for 5–10 minutes until crisp and golden.
• Cook the cod in sauce following pack instructions and cut the fish into pieces.
• Spoon pieces of the cod and sauce into the pastry cases and top with a small sprig of parsley

King Prawn and Scallop Mini Skewers (makes 10)

This mini skewers recipe is simple, cost-effective and super tasty. All the ingredients included are ready-frozen – it’s simply a case of defrosting and getting a little creative! Follow the instructions below and become the talk of Christmas!

Ingredients

• 1 pack of Young’s King Prawns and Scallops with Lemon and Pink Peppercorn Butter
• Mini wooden/bamboo skewers

Instructions

• Defrost the king prawns and scallops according to the instructions on pack.
• Soak the wooden/bamboo skewers in water for 20 minutes to prevent splintering.
• Thread the prawns and scallops onto the skewers, three per skewer.
• In a small pan, melt the lemon and pink peppercorn butter and brush the melted butter over the prawns and scallops.
• Place the prawn and scallop skewers under a pre-heated grill for 4-6 minutes turning occasionally and baste with any remaining butter. 

Scampi Bloody Mary Shots (makes 6)

This recipe is guaranteed to make a statement – taking big bold flavours, scampi and the kick of vodka to create the ultimate Christmas party talking point. Whether you’re serving at a Boxing Day lunch or a pre-Christmas bash, the Scampi Bloody Mary Shots are a great way to kick start any party!

Ingredients

• 1 bag Young’s Gastro Wholetail Scampi
• 1 baby gem lettuce, washed

Bloody Mary Mayonnaise (Ingredients)

• 100g mayo
• 70g ketchup
• A dash of Worcester sauce
• ¼tsp Tabasco Sauce
• 2tsp Vodka
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Smoked paprika or cayenne pepper for topping
• 6 shot glasses

Instructions

• Cook the scampi following the pack instructions.
• To make the Bloody Mary ketchup mayo: put mayo in a bowl, add ketchup, tabasco, vodka, and mix.
• To make the shot: place a baby gem lettuce leaf in the side edge of the shot glass.
• Add a spoonful of the Bloody Mary mayo, add two pieces of scampi and top with a teaspoon of Bloody Mary mayo.
• Finish with a sprinkling of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.

Tips and tricks for the perfect dinner party this Christmas:

1. First and foremost, a successful festive dinner party needs a relaxed and welcoming host/hostess. A few weeks before your party, settle on the final menu of canapes you will be serving, taking into account any special dietary needs, and don’t be afraid to ask friends what they would love to nibble on at the party in advance. If you are enjoying yourself, your guests will be too.
2. Decorate serving platters with sprigs of holly and green foliage to give them a festive feel and add extra colour to the plate.
3. Serve canapes in mason jars, ramekin dishes and vintage tea plates for an alternative Christmas look.
4. Impress guests by making homemade mulled wine – for the richest taste choose bold and full bodied red wines like a Malbec.
5. Add a personal touch to the table and hand write individual place cards for each guest – postage tags are great for these and can be tied around cutlery or wine glass stems.

This Christmas cheat sheet will hopefully provide you with the inspiration to host an awesome Christmas party – all that’s left is decorations (we have this covered – 15 Easy and Elegant Christmas Decorating Ideas) and lastly, your outfit. We’ll leave this one to you…

Happy Holidays!