Christmas lunch - starters - give me some ideas please.

[sandyballs]

Nothing fishy, as DH and DD have convinced themselves they are allergic .

Usually have soup, but it is quite filling and a bit dull.

What do you lot usually have?

[jicky]

We don't usually do starters, but a very simple, not filling one is hard boiled quails eggs and celery salt. Boil and peel eggs day before - present on plate with small bowl of celery salt to dunk in!

[lulabellarama]

Absolutely nothing.

Seriously is anybody ever less than stuffed with just the main meal and pudding?

[compo]

having a starter before the hugest meal of the entire year is madness in my opinion.
xmas dinner si big enough, you do not need a starter

[nowwearefour]

we ususally do melon or grapefruit. i know is v 70s but is light nough and means we can start at the time the dgps think the meal ought to start!!

[mankyscotslass]

Our starter is a glass of sherry
There is no way I would have room for a starter as well as a huge Christmas dinner and pudding!

[Countingthegreyhairs]

agree no starter necessary ...

we sometimes defer Christmas pudding to Boxing Day if we are too full as well ...

[oxocube]

My kids demand prawn cocktail! Its the only time of the year I'll agree to 'make' it - no good for fish allergists though

[mogs0]

Sometimes melon but usually smoked salmon and prawn cocktail. It's a long-standing tradition that will never stop in our house!!! Also, half the christmas chocs have been broken into by the time dinner is ready!!

[Ivvvvyygootscaaared444]

we dont do starter

We do have crisps - specail ones and unsalted nuts to nibble with a glass of wine before we sit down.

Orange juice with cherry on a cocktail stick?

melon and palmer ham? with a cherry on a stick over the boat of melon?

Christams pudding is to important so you must leave some dinner to fit it in

Boxing day christmas pudding is fried in icing sugar

[tassisssss]

i love smoked salmon

i also do a lovely "exotic melon cocktail" but it has crab meat in it.

sorry that's not much help!

[BCNS]

How about soft boiled Quail eggs and asparagus ?

we have starters , then main, then cheese/ fruit , then pud, and then coffees and brandys then cakes... none of us are stuffed.. but dinner does take a long time.. with a little bit of everything

[starbear]

We do melon slices with some prosciutto or parma ham very simple and not filling.
When dad was alive and sitting to dinner we only had the melon

[janeite]

I usually just do melon and picky things but then we have a break before the main course.

[Tidey]

I'm always too full up after Xmas lunch to have any pudding, god knows what I'd be like if we had a starter. I suppose the 'eating an entire selection box before 9am' tradition might be the problem....

[piratecat]

we soemtimes con't have the pud till about 5 oclock!

[mabanana]

I never do starters at all. It's a big meal!
The only thing I might consider are a few M&S canapes with a glass of champagne.

[biscuitsmustbedunkedintea]

When we were little we always had Egg Mayonaise, so 80's but fab! Hard boiled eggs on a plate, hugh dollop of salad cream / mayonaise on top, scattering of cayenne pepper on top and crisp iceberg lettuce alongside

Now posh and have scampi and salmon

[elsiepiddock]

Agree - meal too big to have starters.

We do put out some nuts for guests to have with champers when they arrive.

[SquiffyHock]

I just do canapes after church with champagne - fab. That's around 1ish then lunch is at 3.10!

[pointydog]

I quite like a melony medley. Var easy to prepare too

[janeite]

Melony Medley - sounds like a pop star!

[cheerycherry]

A fruit cocktail of usually strawberries, melon and mango. Yum!

[pointydog]

the new hannah montana

[Ivvvvyygootscaaared444]

oh thank you - thats really good, my dd will love that one

[skramble]

Pate and oat cakes with a little salad and cranberry. Plated up beforehand.

or

a little puff pastry square with tomato topping. indiviual versions of this Cook before and allow to cool. I just spread some sundried tomato paste on the pastry, place on tomatos, drizzle with olive oil and bit of cheese and basil leaves cut fine.