The party season is upon us once more and this week I am giving you some ideas for party nibbles to go with drinks.

Now another little tip from long long ago. On party nights my mother always had a great big pot of soup ready and sitting on the stove. As the party quietened down and was drawing to a close the soup was warmed and mammy insisted on all drivers having a cup full. Soon all the guests were sipping away and warming up inside before heading out into the cold of the night.

During the year I gave you Roasted Pepper Cookies a good match with Mothers Pâté – OK so it contained liver.

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Smoked Salmon Roll

2 tsps hot Horseradish cream
8ozs Smoked Salmon
8ozs Cream Cheese
4ozs unsalted butter
2 tblsps Lemon Juice
4 tblsps Single Cream

Put horseradish in a basin.Chop 2ozs of smoked salmon and add to the horseradish.Beat in the cheese, butter, lemon juice and cream.On greaseproof paper, lay out the remaining smoked salmon, overlapping to form a rectangle 10”x 4”.With wet hands shape the cheese mixture into a roll 10” long and place in the centre of the salmon.Fold the salmon edges around the cheese to enclose and roll tightly in the greaseproof paper.

To freeze: Place in plastic bag

To Use: Thaw for 1 hour then cut into ¾ inch slices.Put in the fridge until served (about 1½ hours)

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Olive Cheese Balls

Yield 3 dozen.Preheat the oven to 200°C
8ozs Cheddar Cheese grated
5ozs Plain Flour
4ozs Butter melted
Pimento Stuffed olives
½ teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Paprika.

Drain olives well. Mix cheese and flour until crumbly. Add butter and mix well with a fork. Mould 1 tsp of dough around each olive and shape into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet.Cover and chill for 1 hour or longer.Bake for 15 minutes serve hot.