AIBU to not do a starter with Christmas dinner?

[bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe]

This is slightly troubling me.

On 25th December I will be serving up a huge roast dinner, followed by pudding (an actual pudding rather than just my usual fruit, yogurt or icecream) and before that dinner we will have had all sorts of nibbles like nuts, olives, mini cheddars, twigletts (cos we are well classy ).

So, I never ever do three courses unless am having a proper dinner party.

Aibu not to faff around with a starter when its just us 4 and my mum (aged 80 and small appetite) on Christmas day?

I'm beginning to doubt myself having exposed myself to the Mumsnet xmas beserkers .

I don't think you need a starter and nibbles, more room for pudding

YANBU!

We never have a starter for Christmas Dinner (except for several Kg of Quality Street etc) - there's nothing that is 'traditional'. you are already using the overn, all rings, the microwave and next door's Baby Belling Urn to juggle all the accompaniements for the turkey, and there is already more than enough to eat.

You live in your hosehold, not an edition of Family Circle or the free Waitrose How to Spend More In Our Shop magazine where you all sit down to a starter.

no starter here either.

Nibbles is a starter when you're having a roast.

You do want everyone to have room for pudding, don't you? I'm not doing a starter for that reason (and because I don't want to).

But then again, this year (for a change and a break) most of dinner will be 'pre-prepared'.

I think it is the most 'special' meal of the year, more important than a dinner party with friends, so I like to have starters.

Your meal, your rules, though!

We never have a starter!

If you want one, but don't want the hassle then buy someting ready made.

We always have a prawn cocktail starter [1970s throwback]

Thank you so much for clarifying that Christmas is on the 25th of December

Starter...........ha ha ha ha ha. Erm, no, wouldn't be happening here, but we aren't at all 'formal'. I imagine those having starters probably wont be having twiglets like you and I

You are doing yorkshires & christmas pudding though aren't you??

God no - we never do starters.

YANBU deff no space for a starter!

YADNBU Starters are way too much! I need to leave room for several a pig in a blanket. Mmmm looking forward to it already

The only time we've ever had a starter was the year I was pg and mum did prawns

No starter her!

Oh an never Yorkshire puddings with turkey. That's plain wrong.

We have turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, 3 different veg and gravy. Followed by 2 types of pudding - usually fruit salad or trifle and a chocolate roulade. None of us like christmas pudding. Sometimes we have hot mince pies and brandy butter.

We usually have smoked salmon as nibbles/starter, but there's usually a fairly large gap between that and the main course (30/45 minutes). It takes me that long to get organised between courses!

How do people manage to have a starter and do last-minute gravies, sauces, serving, wine-pouring, etc? Or does the main cook miss out on the starter while everyone else is tucking in? Sod that!

Far better to have a little gorgeously-wrapped table present instead...

God I love twigletts and I am verrry classy indeed.

Nibbles and no starter is fine, but you might want to think about a cheese course? There are some fantastic British cheeses and it is so lovely to linger at the table and drink wine/coffee and just talk with no rush.

YANBU
My mil makes three courses every year and my Sil and Bil encourage their Dc's to fill up on the bread and soup before so their youngest can bearly manage the turkey afterwards its a massive watse and with pudding as well its a little pointless.
I'm cooking for just family this year so no stater and Mr M and Mr S are making pudding

I hadn't even considered a starter - it's a massive meal, I see no need

Ah, Mishy, that makes sense!

I'm geniunely shocked at the lack of starters (in an 'Oh my God I thought we were normal' way, noty a judgemental one). It's the focus of the day for me - I'd forgo the presentds for my lovely dinner and nice wine. We have a few nibbles around the house as the meal is late-ish, and then we take hours over eating so the quantity of food is not so challenging. This has worked with children over the years as we don't expect them to sit all the way through, just while they are eating each course.

I used to do a starter but realised the people sat around my table were not that interested in it - they were waiting for roast potatoes. So I save myself time and money and just do the mains Then we play a game and go for pudding. Then later the cheeses come out and the Christmas cake..

Ah - Christsmas eve, Ex-dh comes to stay - morning is cereal for the kids - and batteries - about 10am I do stuff like smoked salmon blinis for me and ex - kids don't want owt - except batteries, and the phillips srewdriver - then it's goose, trimmings, pudding etc, then around 6pm, its a mix of buffet stuff for those not stuffed to the gills already...

YANBU

Callisto
Normally I am a huge fan of the cheese course, I really am. I adore all sorts of British and indeed even foreign cheese.

However, after nibbles and sherry all morning, christmas dinner (no Yorkshire puddings here, I don't even know how to make them) and christmas pudding, there is no chance I could put the tiniest sliver of cheese away.

I think I really must have a mysteriously small appetite proportionate to my size (16) .

Had a starter before I had DS as we sat around for hours.

No starter now; we have yorkshire pudding (one big home made).

Breakfast is scrambled egg with cream and smoked salmon on uncut loaf made into toast. Optional pain au chocolate and danish for breakfast dessert. I think we may still be too full for starter.