Smoked salmon blinis: bitesize luxury for New Year’s Eve

I tend to hunker down on New Year’s Eve, eschewing parties for my own home. Even when I was young, the prospect of sleeping on someone else’s floor or braving the night bus home in the early hours of the morning didn’t really appeal. But sometimes I worry that that can lead to the night being a damp squib. The way to fix this is a little bit of luxury. Perfect bitesize tastes of luxury. And for me, that means blinis topped with the fanciest, most delicious morsels I can lay my hands on. Drink them with something cold and sparkly, and you won’t regret staying in for one moment.

If you are more sociable than I am, these also make the most impressive party snacks – and ones that suggest far more preparation and skill than they actually require. For the minimal effort (and much more acceptable price tag), fresh blinis are worth your time.