Party Snacks for the Festive Season

We nearly all come to it every year.  Among many of the people I know, there seems to be a bit of a competition to see who puts out the most extravagant spread.  It even got to the point at one time, that if I went anywhere there were only a couple of limp sandwiches and a cheese puff or two, that I felt cheated.

For this year, I’ve got to take lots of things into account.  Both my mother and I are diabetic, and have underactive thyroids.  Food has to count, or it needs to find someone else’s house to live in.  I’ve lost a fair bit of weight this year, and I want that to keep going.  Health depends on what we put in our mouths and carbohydrates aren’t my friend any more, but I still want to have some tasty treats.

This is my wish list, and if I visit your house, I’d be happy with any of these.  I might even put some of them out for my own visitors, although you’re unlikely to find terribly much in the way of chocolate here.  I have three boys who just hoover it up, leaving nothing for anyone else.

Crisps

These are my all time favourite snacking option.  I have a little penchant for Barbeque Popchips, but you won’t find them on my xmas guest list.

Corkers Crisps recently sent me some of their samples of crisps, and I’ve found some new favourites, although I do need to ration them calorie and carbohydrate wise.  Made in the Fenlands, in Cambridgeshire, they are hand cooked for perfect crunch.

Not only are the potatoes grown on the family farm but the factory is also located there and all the crisps are hand-cooked on site.

Flavours are: Sea Salt, Pork Sausage and English Mustard, Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion, Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar, Sweet Thai Chilli, Sea Salt and Black Pepper, Gressingham Duck and Soy Sauce, and last but not least, Vegetable.

The packs I tried were 40g a pack, and enough for two to share if you’re not too crispy greedy.  My own favourites were the Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion, and the Vegetable flavours.  Two boys liked the Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar and my mum was tickled pink with the Sea Salt and Black Pepper.  They’re crispy and very importantly for crisps, they are nice a crispy with a good texture.  I could eat a box of the Vegetable to be honest…..  They’re luxurious and well worth a place on any table.  They’d go down well with hummus and sour cream.

I can’t find them in any of my local shops, so I might have to give them a miss, but I’ll keep a look out for them arriving.  I really do appreciate my crisps.  If you have a Waitrose or National Trust close by, you’re likely to be able to get your hands on them.

Sweet Nibbles

My one concession to chocolate, that the boys won’t finish before I can put it out, is likely to be Tesco Snacking Fruit, Nut and Chocolate Mix.  The pots are only 45g, but they pack a good punch.    With fruit juice infused dried cranberries, almonds, cashew nuts, milk chocolate coated almonds and white chocolate coated sultanas.

Dried Fruit

Dried mango and cranberries go down well here, in whatever form them come in, so they are always on my snacking list.  I couldn’t do without them.

Fruit Selection

As a diabetic, berries are my friend.  I’m getting used to blueberries and am finally beginning to enjoy eating them.  I don’t know why I used to dislike them, but perhaps my taste buds are just changing and I don’t need as much sweetness in my fruit as I used to.

I usually have strawberries, and if I can get them, mango and persimmons are firm favourites, as are figs, but it’s unlikely I’d have them all out on the table.

Party Susan Staples

I struggle to believe there would be someone who wouldn’t know what a party susan is, but it is possible.  For those, it’s a round style dish with different compartments for different foods.

In mine, there could be:

• Chopped Baxters Beetroot, or Baby Beetroot if I can find it.  It’s like hens teeth.
• Chopped Pineapple.
• Galloway Cheddar.   We had samples of these a while ago, and when I buy it now, I have to hide it under the veg in the fridge or number 1 son devours it as snacks.
• Hummus.
• Guacamole.
• Sour Cream.
• Cherry Tomatoes.
• Sliced Carrot.
• Sliced Romaine Lettuce.
• Cashew Nuts, Almonds or Pecans.

No Pizza or Sausage Rolls or Sandwiches

Not any, at all.  My boys might not like it, but the list of foods above are more than enough to fill any belly. These are also ideal for pyjama parties for mums, or any excuse to have a home gathering in a comfy setting.