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Finger food

Essential at parties, or instead of a starter at an informal gathering, or to serve with drinks... these recipes will soon win a place in your regular repertoire as they're easy and irresistible!

 
 
Christmas Easy: Party Cheese TwistsMakes about 14

Christmas Easy: Party Cheese Twists

A great way to use up leftover ready-rolled puff pastry, these moreish cheese straws are made in minutes and will go down a storm at a drinks party!

 
 
Mini Mincemeat MuffinsMakes 24

Mini Mincemeat Muffins

At Christmastime, when mincemeat seems to make its yearly outing, what could be better than these lovely mini muffins, made with mincemeat instead of the usual dried fruit?

 
 
Lemon RouladeMakes 2 roulades (serves 12-16)

Lemon Roulade

This recipe makes two lovely, light and lemony roulades to serve 12-16. They can be made in advance and, if you're worried about rolling a roulade up, don't be: Delia tells you how to get it right every time.

 
 
Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake with Fruit and Nuts served with Creme FraicheServes 6-8

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake with Fruit and Nuts served with Creme Fraiche

This is quite simply a chocolate cheesecake to die for. If you like chocolate, if you like dark chocolate with fruit and nuts, and if you like luscious, velvet-textured mascarpone – need I say more? Before embarking on a baked cheesecake remember tha

 
 
Chocolate, Prune and Armagnac Mini MuffinsMakes 24

Chocolate, Prune and Armagnac Mini Muffins

Tiny little chocolate bites – soft, light, with melted chocolate swirled on the top and a light dusting of cocoa. These are lovely served with coffee at the end of a meal.

 
 
Little Croustades filled with Gravadlax and Soured CreamMakes 12

Little Croustades filled with Gravadlax and Soured Cream

Easy yet impressive, you simply have to add these to your party food repertoire. Use guacamole or smoked salmon instead of gravadlax if you prefer.

 
 
Chocolate Mini Muffins with Toasted HazelnutsMakes 24

Chocolate Mini Muffins with Toasted Hazelnuts

These were invented specifically for children to make for the 1997 Comic Relief campaign with red cherries on top. This is a more adult version, but children can still make them using chocolate drops for melting and cherries instead of nuts.

 
 
Crostini with Anchovies, Roasted Vegetables and MozzarellaServes 6 as a starter or 3 as a light lunch

Crostini with Anchovies, Roasted Vegetables and Mozzarella

This recipe was inspired not by a visit to Italy but by a trip to the Basque region of Spain to see anchovies being caught and packed.

 
 
Crostini LazioMakes 12, to serve 4-6

Crostini Lazio

These elegant little morsels are simplicity itself to make. Serve them with drinks or as part of a buffet spread...

 
 
Kipper pâtéServes 1

Kipper pâté

You could use frozen kipper fillets for this, but even better would be a proper kipper. By the time you've removed the skin and bones from one medium-sized kipper you should be left with approximately 4 oz (110 g) fish.