Clever canapés

• Ricotta cheese flavoured with a few fresh ingredients is heaven when nestled in an endive leaf.
• Mini potatoes which have been baked with the insides scooped out are delicious if you mix the potato flesh with some fruit chutney, crème fraîche, salt and pepper, and then fill up the potato skins with the mix and sprinkle over some grated cheddar cheese. Bake the filled potato skins in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

Top and tail checklist
Use any combination below for the perfect party canapé:

Tops
• store-bought good quality pâté
• mango chutney mixed with cream cheese and a little cayenne pepper
• smoked salmon with a dollop of crème fraîche, sprinkled with lemon pepper
• potted shrimps
• tuna Niçoise salad
• prosciutto and figs
• coleslaw (stuffed into tomatoes)
• crab bound with mayonnaise, a dash of Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon
• sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
• Boursin cheese spread mixed with roasted vegetables

Tails
• little gem lettuce leaves
• red endive
• grape leaves
• mushroom caps
• patty pan squash cups
• tomato cups
• thinly sliced bread, buttered on both sides, moulded in a mini muffin tin and baked to make a croustade
• ciabatta crostini
• homemade or store bought crisps

Quick homemade dips:

• houmous
• spinach artichoke dip
• avocado dip
• tzatziki dip