Fancy a nibble?

It's the first party you're throwing awayfrom home.

Mum's not there to bake you and your friends cookies anymore and theshop-bought Twiglets and party rings just won't cut it.

Show off your new-foundprowess in the kitchen and amaze all who arrive at your party to sample yourcooking with these easy to follow tips.

We'll start with the obvious - make surethat you wash your hands before starting, that everything you use to cook isclean and that all your ingredients are in date, you don't want any of yourguests getting sick from your cooking, they'll never come back.

Almost as important as the cooking itselfis the presentation.

I am guilty, as I am sure many of you like-minded studentsare, of eating food straight from the baking tray to save on the washing-up.

Whenserving food to guests set it out on the table and don't worry about the extrawashing-up, a well meaning guest may even offer to help out.

Feel free togarnish your food and make it look appetising - people 'eat' with their eyesand if it is well presented the food will be enjoyed much more.

Below are some ideas for different sized parties,but more recipes can be found on the BBC Recipe website.

LowKey

These ideas are perfect for casualget-togethers with friends such as study groups or movie nights.

Parsnip crisps are an interestingalternative to munch on in front of the television and are incredibly easy tomake.

Heat a saucepan of oil to 180°c, slice a parsnip into strips using avegetable peeler, fry the strips in the oil, drain them on kitchen roll andserve in a large bowl.

Pass them round your friends and watch them disappear!

For something a little more substantial whynot make some pizza bread?

Take a French loaf, slice it in half (and cut itdown so it will fit into your oven!) spread on some salsa, sprinkle on somemozzarella, add your own choice of toppings and whack it in an 190-200°C ovenfor about 15 minutes.

Cut it into slices, arrange them on a plate and get stuckinto some group study, just remember to brush the crumbs off the books beforetaking them back to the library.

SmallGatherings

A really fun idea, which will surprise anddelight your friends, is to set out a plate of gingerbread people amongst yourother nibbles.

Follow this recipeto make your gingerbread people and if you have the patience and time decoratethe gingerbread men and women to look like your friends.

Invite someone over tohelp and get out the icing sugar, hundreds and thousands and gumdrop buttons tomake each creation individual.12»