Having a handful of simple recipes for hors d’oeuvres is essential for any cook. Entertaining should not always entail hard labour in the kitchen (or at the grocery store.) Late afternoon or evening cocktails with one or two easy nibbles is deliciously uncomplicated and leaves plenty of time for both guests and host to enjoy the company.

There’s plenty of edible offerings to be had with very little work – quality olives, roasted almonds with coarse salt and esplette pepper, or delicious crackers, topped or not. When making hors d’oeuvres the best advice is to keep it simple. One really delicious bite with a glass of wine is near perfect. The mandate for casual entertaining is to stimulate the palate, not satisfy an appetite.

The task of preparing hors d’oeuvres is easy when ingredients at hand are used. These phyllo and goat cheese packages are made with Tracklements Onion Marmalade, a delicious and sweet condiment that is versatile enough to be a fridge staple. They are simple to make and can be prepared up to a day in advance. They can go from the refrigerator to the oven while drinks are being mixed and can be enjoyed warm with little fuss.

Even better still, the filling can manifest in many ways. It makes a delicious topping for simple and salty garlic crostini with a sprig of Italian parsley or a sprinkle of finely chopped chive as garnish. It can be piped into small pre-made tart shells and served as is, or spread on good sourdough bread and topped with cold, shaved roast beef.

Tracklements makes a complete line of sauces, jams, marmalades, chutneys and other delicious condiments. The simple and direct natural flavours are the perfect accompaniment to a variety of foods and can also be used as dips, marinades and creative cooking.

Learn more about Tracklements here.