Web Only: Quick Treats With Cheese

Cheese is so delicious it's almost too easy to include in a meal But it's always sure to please. Try these 10 ways to make aN EASY difference to  entertaining.

Go retro... and combine herbs, cream and goat cheeses and seasoning into a large cheese ball. Wrap in cling-film and chill for up to 24 hours. Serve with crackers.

Get festive... make goat cheese ‘ornaments’ by rolling soft cheese around an olive or jalapeno slice. Cover the resulting bite-sized balls in chopped sweet peppers, chopped coriander or pumpkin seeds and refrigerate. Serve with toothpicks.

Get spreading... mix cream cheese, sour cream and grated Parmesan together. Add chopped artichoke hearts, olives, flat-leaf parsley and lemon zest. Serve with toasted baguette slices.

Make a salsa... out of chopped avocados, feta, herbs, tomatoes and red onion. Combine ingredients with a red or white wine vinegar and olive oil dressing. Serve with tortilla chips.

Get sandwiching... make a cheddar cheese shortbread mixture. Cut into rectangular strips and bake. Sandwich two cheddar shortbread ‘strips’ together with onion jam.

Play it light... make some cheese ‘crisps’ by combining 2Tbls buttermilk, 1 cup cream and 230g Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a small saucepan. Heat until warm and then pour into a jar to rest. Stand for 24 hours until thickened, or keep in a fridge for up to a week. To cook: place spoonfuls on baking sheet (with enough space for spreading between) and cook at 200 deg C for up to four minutes. Lay warm crisps over muffin trays for shape. Cool and serve with creme fraiche and caviar.

Heat it up... by toasting walnuts and adding to a mixture of honey and chilli pepper. Serve with goat or blue cheese and crackers.

Combine... roasted pumpkin with cream cheese and seasonings and serve as a dip. This is especially good after dinner with ginger-nut biscuits.

Mix... cheddar, salmon, herbs and cream cheese together and bake in fillo pastry cups.

Serve... grated cheese and condiments on sliced cooked polenta (instead of crackers) for hors d’oeuvres with a difference.