Holiday Appetizers for #SundaySupper: Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta Cheese

Mistletoes, twinkling lights, Christmas trees, cheer and merriment are found in abundance throughout this holiday season. Not to mention the plethora of good food and drinks. The holidays are not just an excuse to celebrate but also indulge in your culinary guilty pleasures. It’s a time of the year when everyone dons their aprons, cooks their best and take pleasure in continuously feeding others. From breakfast to lunch f, from tea to dinner and cocktail hour in between; all hours seem to become food and drink hours. Endless trays of aromatic and delicious gems are passed from right under your nose, and even if the belly doesnt agree, the temptation always gives way. So the motto of the holiday season should be to enjoy all the culinary delights and worry about what the weighing scale will say to you later.

Holiday Appetizers for #SundaySupper: Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta Cheese

To celebrate the holidays, #SundaySupper has a delicious theme this week hosted by Connie Smith of the foodiearmywife; aptly titled Holiday Appetizers and Drinks. The inspiration behind this appetizer was using one or two ingredients that feature in most Christmas/Holiday recipes and give it a different dimension. Somehow to me the winter season always conjures up images of warm drinks with cinnamon and nutmeg, hence I chose to use those along with some dried cranberries to come up with my Holiday hors d’oeuvre. Instead of making something sweet, I decided to use them with what the Russians eat for breakfast; blinis. Light, airy, small pancakes that are normally eaten with sour cream. Blinis too are considered a very majestic appetizer when donned with expensive caviar. My idea was to make them simple yet elegant but not too pretentious, hence I chose to top them with smoked salmon.

Holiday Appetizers for #SundaySupper: Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta Cheese

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup buckwheat flour
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, separated
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 pkt smoked salmon
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• Sprigs of dill to garnish, optional

Preparation:

• Prepare the feta topping first. Add the cranberries, spices and honey to a blender. Pulse for a minute or so till the cranberries are roughly chopped and covered in the spices
• Place the feta cheese in a bowl and crumble with the back of a fork
• Add the spiced cranberries and mix well
• Cover and refrigerate till needed. (Take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving)
• For the blinis, mix all the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda) in a bowl
• In a separate bowl whisk together the mix and egg yolk
• Make a well between the flour mixture and pour the egg/milk mixture inside
• Using a wire whisk, carefully combine the wet and dry ingredients till no lumps remain
• Cover and let it stand for 10 minutes
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg white till stiff peaks form
• Slowly fold the egg whites into the blini mixture in 2-3 batches, till it is completely dissolved
• Heat a pan with a pat of butter. Once the butter melts, ladle one spoon of the blini mixture onto pan
• Cook in medium heat for about 2 minutes on each side, till bubbles form on the top layer and it is lightly browned
• Repeat with the remaining batch
• To make the blinis bite sized (optional), use a small cookie cutter to make tiny round shaped blinis
• Place a teaspoon of the feta cheese mixture and top with a slice of smoked salmon
• Garnish with dill leaves before serving

Holiday Appetizers for #SundaySupper: Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta Cheese

These tiny bites of heaven have a hint of spices as it touches your palate. Hence, I used small amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg so as to not overpower the rest of the flavors. The blinis should be light and airy so as to let you enjoy the full-bodied flavors of the salmon and the earthy taste of the cranberry-feta cheese. Treat your guests to an array of flavors in a small bite with these appetizers. The fun doesnt stop here, take a look at the numerous options that we have this #SundaySupper for your holiday entertaining. This Sunday, you will find a variety of cocktails and beverages, tapas and treats – sure to please your guests! Join us!

Party Beverages

• Glühwein from Magnolia Days
• Cookies-n-Cream Cocktails from The Urban Mrs
• Cranberry Fizz from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
• Rosemary Orange Punsch from Glactopdx
• Candy Cane Martini from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Raspberry Hot Chocolate from Momma’s Meals
• Chocolate Peppermint Eggnog from The Daily Dish Recipes
• Jamaican Sorrel from The Lovely Pantry
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Spoons from Chocolate Moosey
• Gingerbread Hot Chocolate fromCravings of a Lunatic
• Homemade Eggnog fromFlour on my Face
• Moroccan Mint Tea from MarocMama
• Cherry Bomb fromNoshing with the Nolands
• Wassel from There And Back Again
• Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail fromCupcakes & Kale Chips
• Pomegranate Cosmo fromSupper For A Steal
• Poinsettia Mimosas from Big Bear’s Wife
• Caramel Apple Cider-tinis & Procrastination fromKelly Bakes
• Egg Cream for Adults from Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Mulled Wine: Spiked and Steamy from Daddy Knows Less
• Hot Chocolate Party fromPippi’s in the Kitchen Again
• Poinsettia Cocktails fromThe Catholic Foodie
• The Red Carpet Diva from Cooking Underwriter

Appetizers or Hors d’oeuvres

• Cheese Ball Wreath fromThe Meltaways
• Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts fromMy Catholic Kitchen
• Prosciutto Goat Cheese Rolls with Fig Preserves and Arugula from Shockingly Delicious
• Muenster and Spinach Pinwheels fromThat Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Drunk Moose Meatballs from The Foodie Army Wife
• Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta from Chattering Kitchen
• Sticky Wholegrain Mustard & Ginger Cocktail Sausages from girlichef
• Potato Leek Soup fromWhat Smells So Good
• Firecracker Shrimp and Samosas fromCrispy Bits & Burnt Ends
• Cheesy Mushroom Pull Apart Bread fromSmall Wallet Big Appetite
• 5 Quick & Easy Appetizers for Your Holiday Party from Webicurean
• Bacon Peanut Caramel Corn from Gotta Get Baked
• Crostini topped with Voodoo Chicken Cream Dip from Country Girl in the Village
• Mushroom Strudel from Vintage Kitchen
• Roxanne’s Shrimp & Andouille Sausage Queso Dip from The ROXX Box
• Herbed Holiday Party Mix fromCurious Cuisiniere
• Old fashioned Swedish Meatballs from I Run For Wine
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bites fromCindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Saucy Asian Meatballs fromDamn Delicious
• Baked Philo Appetizers fromMy Cute Bride
• Fried Green Beans with Wasabi Ranch fromJuanita’s Cocina
• Salsa Baked Cheese fromHome Cooking Memories
• Cookie Dough Dip fromThe Cookie-A-Day Challenge
• Parmesan Onion Rounds from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Lip-smacking Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs from In The Kitchen with KP
• Hot Spinach Parmesan Dip fromComfy Cuisine
• Indian Spiced Tuna Balls from Soni’s Food
• Onion marmalade with Bacon from Ruffles and Truffles
• Roasted Cranberry Beet Borsch Shooters from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Sweet Potato Dip from Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Festive Cucumber & Ginger Sushi Rolls from The Ninja Baker
•  Baked Brie from Family Foodie

Can you believe all those goodies? I can’t wait for this party to start!

Do you have a favorite dish or beverage to take to a party?  Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during#SundaySupper on December 16th.  In the evening we will meet at 3 pm AKST/7 pm EST for our #SundaySupperParty live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your recipe for holiday parties on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.