Catering for a New Year gathering needn’t take up hours of your time if you’re doing the hosting. These straightforward canape ideas that can all be rustled up in just a few minutes and taste fantastic.

Ploughman’s sticks

Spread a slice of thin-cut ham with a little English mustard. Fold onto wooden skewers or forks, along with a pickled silverskin onion, a cube of Cheddar cheese and a cube of chopped apple. Repeat with the remaining slices of ham in the pack.

Goat’s cheese and olive pizza bites

Take a Co-op Margherita pizza, dot with soft goat’s cheese and scatter over some mixed olives. Bake as per pack instructions and top with a scattering of fresh basil leaves and rocket. Chop into bite-sized pieces and serve.

Mustard tuna crostini

Mash together drained tinned tuna with a little Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, finely chopped red chilli, sliced spring onions and a squeeze of lemon juice. Lightly toast sliced rounds of baguette and top with the mixture and some drained and rinsed capers (optional).

Pitta triangles with lemon and feta houmous

Stir crumbled feta, grated lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice into some houmous and top with a little more feta and lemon zest to finish. Slice open pitta breads, then cut the halves diagonally to make triangles. Put onto a baking tray and bake in a low oven until crisp, turning halfway. Serve the triangles topped with the lemon houmous and a sprinkle of paprika or cayenne pepper.