Christmas party food: Fare play

Compile your menu now with these ideas from Fiona Hamilton-Fairley for treats to make with the children in your nursery for an extra tasty Christmas party

As the festive season is fast approaching, it is a good idea to start planning your Christmas party now. Involving the children as much as possible in the preparations is great fun and builds up their excitement about the big day. So, what is party food? Party food should be simple and easy to eat, it should make your mouth water and there should be something there for everyone to enjoy. A balanced menu is important. I would suggest that you start the party by serving the savoury dishes first before bringing out the sweet things. This way the children will fill up first on the healthy options before moving on to the sweet bits.

Try to keep the drinks low in sugar, as this will help the children avoid becoming over-excited. Make sure you look at your kitchen equipment and oven space before you plan the menu. And, of course, check your budget. Try to include the children as much as possible in preparing the food and making the decorations for the party.

Below is a list of some favourite children's dishes and some handy tips to make sure your party is a success.

Dishes

• Mini garlic bread can be bought or made. It is best served warm if possible.
  
  Tip! Keep the quantity of fresh garlic to a minimum, as young children prefer mild tastes in general. You could serve them some plain bread as well.
  
  
• Savoury mini meatballs can be made with minced turkey, to add a flavour of Christmas. 500g mince meat will make 30 to 35 balls. A handful of chopped chives, seasoning and some breadcrumbs increases the flavour and bulk. The meatballs can be cooked in the oven. Once cooked they can be served on a cocktail stick and dipped into some cranberry jam or jelly before eating.
  
  Tip! To save washing up, place the meatballs on a piece of parchment paper and then on a baking tray.
  
  
• Festive mini pizzas are easy to make and can suit all tastes. First make the dough. This can be a packet mix, or better still, use two heaped tablespoons of strong flour, half a teaspoon of fast-acting yeast, half a teaspoon of caster sugar, and a pinch of salt. Add enough warm water to bring the mixture together to form a dough. Allow the children to knead the dough and roll it in their hands into tiny balls. Then flatten them into very small circles. Place a blob of tomato puree on the dough and add a small amount of cheese, pepperoni, sweetcorn or tuna fish. Top with cheese and bake in a hot oven at 200*C/gas mark 6 for five to eight minutes or until crisp and golden brown.
  
  Tip! To save washing up, place the mini pizzas on a piece of parchment paper and then on a baking tray.
  
  
• Potato dippers are very simple - all you need to do is buy enough potatoes with good clean skins. Wash them well. Cut the potatoes into wedges. Place in a roasting tin and drizzle with a little olive oil. Season with some sea salt and ground black pepper. Place in a hot oven, 200*C/gas mark 6, for about 45 minutes or until crisp and soft.
  
  Tip! Serve with a sour cream dip seasoned with well-chopped fresh herbs.
  
  
• Honey roast cocktail sausages Buy plenty of cocktail sausages and if possible get some vegetarian ones as well. Always keep the vegetarian and meat sausages separate and bake them into their own roasting tin. Take some clear honey and pour over the sausages. Place in a hot oven and cook until golden brown and sticky. Serve on cocktail sticks.
  
  
• Freshly sliced fruits and vegetables Take a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, wash any that will be served with the skin on and slice the fruit and vegetables into thin strips for dipping and eating.
  
  Tip! Leave the skin on wherever possible, as a great deal of the vitamins and mineral goodness are found there.
  
  
• Sticky fruity toffee wedges can be made with various kinds of fruit. The best are bananas and apples. You will need: cocktail sticks, granulated sugar, water, hundreds and thousands or sugar strands, selected fruit. Cut the fruit into bite-sized wedges. Pat the apple wedges dry with some kitchen paper to help the caramel stick to the apple. Place eight to ten tablespoons of granulated sugar in a saucepan and add 100ml of water. Allow the sugar to dissolve and then bring the saucepan to the boil until the sugar starts to caramelise. Do not let the caramel burn and do not allow the children to do this part of the preparation, as the caramel is boiling hot and can cause very serious burns. Take the hot caramel off the heat and dip the fruit into the caramel using a cocktail stick. Sprinkle with hundreds and thousands or sugar strands. Reheat the caramel if it begins to go hard during the process.
  
  Tip! Once the fruit has been dipped in the caramel, place the wedges on some greaseproof or silicone paper while they set. This will prevent them from sticking to the plate. To wash up the caramel saucepan, pour some boiling water into the pan and put it back over the heat to clean the pan. Make sure that the children do not go near the cooker or hob.
  
  
• Starry mini mince pies If you don't have time to make your own mince pies, buy some mini ones and add some of your own decorative touches (pictured). If you buy some of the brightly coloured Supercook writing icing in individual tubes, available in shops, the children can draw around the pastry star or produce their own Christmas design on each of the mince pies.
  
  
• Christmas fairy bread is always a great favourite with my children and very easy to make. Buy some brown and white bread. Allow the children to butter the bread using a round-ended knife. Take a plate and sprinkle the hundreds and thousands on to the plate. Take the buttered bread and place it face down on to the hundreds and thousands. Take some festive pastry cutters and cut out as many shapes as possible. Discard any excess crusts.

Table decorations

• Tablecloth Make your own festive tablecloth. Buy a large roll of disposable paper (plain banqueting roll or plain wallpaper) to cover the tables for your party. The children can decorate the table covering a few days before the party. Give each child some coloured felt pens or crayons and let them draw lots of different items associated with Christmas such as a tree, Father Christmas and stars. Alternatively, let them draw round some stencils or shapes and colour in.
  
  
• Tableware Buy some colourful plates, napkins and plastic cups to add to the decorations.
  
  
• Festive nuts Buy nuts, including walnuts, hazelnuts and brazil nuts, for decorating rather than eating. Cover the nuts in glue and roll in glitter or paint them in a bright, festive colour and then roll in the glitter. When dry, place them in a bowl or around the table.
  
  
• Festive cinammon sticks Dip the sticks in paint or glue and sprinkle with glitter. These look and smell lovely.
  
  
• You could make your own Christmas hats for the children to take home at the end of the party.
  
  
• Tangerines and cloves Get the children to press cloves into tangerines and use them as table decorations. They smell terrific and add colour to the table.

Party time

What finally makes a party go with a bang is the atmosphere, music and games. Try one or two games rather than lots and choose ones that all the children can play, regardless of their age or abilities. The good old-fashioned games such as musical cushions, pass the parcel, musical statues or stuck in the mud are often the most popular. What matters most is for everyone to leave with a smile.