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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not do a starter with Christmas dinner?

75 replies

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 04/12/2011 19:51

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 Wink).

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 Xmas Grin.

OP posts:
zukiecat · 04/12/2011 20:13

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Eggrules · 04/12/2011 20:14

after dinner we have trifle and a chocolate dessert.

Cheese course for supper.

Cannot wait.

marriedandwreathedinholly · 04/12/2011 20:15

We don't have a starter (or breakfast on Xmas day) we compromise with a bottle of champagne and smoked salmon triangles when we get back from church. We don't tend to have lunch until about 2.30 though.

Groovee · 04/12/2011 20:18

We have soup usually, or prawn cocktail or melon or I've done pate in the past

ChablisLover · 04/12/2011 20:18

Until ds was born we had 5 course!!

Then it was cut down to 3.

Am thinking of doing a tapas type starter with a big pile of bits and piece to pick at. If not, back to the classic garlic mushroom starterGrin.

But your meal, your tradition. Each till their own. Dh thinks my family are mad as his only ever had main course and the pudding. And then our first Christmas he had to plough through 5 courses! Mum and dad Xmas dinner exploded over the years to full blown dinner party type thing. But I loved itGrin

babybarrister · 04/12/2011 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maddiemostmerry · 04/12/2011 20:25

No starter here. Have to have room for pud.Smile Anyway starters is the sherry I consume whilst preparing xmas dinner.

LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite · 04/12/2011 20:29

My Dmum wanted to stop starters this year, however we always have Pate, and I have spent the last 9 months pregnant and avoiding Pate so she's kindly agreed to wait til next year to drop the starter (IWBU!!!)

NeuromanticisedVisionsofXmas · 04/12/2011 20:31

Why are prawns an Hmm just because you are pregnant?

We always have a starter. But I make the started and MIL makes the main and SIL makes desserts and another SIL makes sides etc, so its not a big deal.

orienteerer · 04/12/2011 20:34

YANBU, we have smoked salmon as a canape (whilst opening presents) so def. no starter.

Sariah · 04/12/2011 20:34

Always have a starter, prawn salad, then turkey, ham, stuffing, roasties, veg and usually at least 3 desserts, trifle, banoffe, cheesecake and I usually have a taste of all of them.

earlyriser · 04/12/2011 20:34

\depends when you have the main meal, we eat about 3.30pm and have our 'starter' at midday, so cuts down on the picking, and gives the cooks peace to cook without endless nagging about 'is it nearly ready yet'!

EnjoyResponsibly · 04/12/2011 20:34

I've done various starters, and it always makes everyone too full.

I'd suggest sticking to a soup if you're dead set on it, but in our house we have the main course, dessert and cheeseboard.

Have a lovely day.

FredFredGeorge · 04/12/2011 20:36

A Christmas Dinner should not have a starter, why would it? That's bonkers, just crack on with the roast, and if you've room for afters you need to put more roast on the table. YANBU to ignore starter, YABU to serve a dessert.

brighthair · 04/12/2011 20:36

We have prawn cocktail. Mum tried to change it to soup last year and after much uproar we had prawns again Grin
Pudding is sticky toffee pud as nobody likes Christmas pudding then we have cheese board at night

Doilooklikeatourist · 04/12/2011 20:39

We don't have a starter , apart from the year the inlaws came , and she wanted to help and bought starters of mini kievs , party eggs and pringles .
Eeuuwwww

Catsmamma · 04/12/2011 20:40

we don't even have breakfast to make sure we have enough room for lunch

I may go a tad ott on all the accompaniments, so there really would not be room.

and then it's cold cuts and cheeseboard all the way to New Year if I can manage it. :D (...well at least the 28th)

flatbread · 04/12/2011 20:41

We always have starter, to tickle the appetite, something warm and delicate. A small cup of broth or a small warm spinach and pear salad is perfect, imo Xmas Smile

schroeder · 04/12/2011 20:42

no need for a starter, (the inlaws have 'em and huge pauses between courses when you've waited all day to eat Hmm).

Here I do the usual turkey and trimmings for about 1-1.30 followed by christmas pud, then it's over with.

(I just wrote that and realised I don't really like christmas dinner and like cooking it even less)

indyandlara · 04/12/2011 20:43

We always had a started but not doing one this year. By the time we have nibbles, main and pudding, after dinner chocolates and then party food tea 3 hours later we are usually exploding. So no starter this year. Also, would like to have an attempt at having dinner with family and toddler not going to go for a mega long seat at table so trimming down tine with no starter.

SantieMaggie · 04/12/2011 20:48

we usually have a starter when we go to my mums but this year its just the two of us so no starter and tbh I'm no fussed - I'm more excited about making another delicious dessert!

Almostfifty · 04/12/2011 20:50

Our starter is at lunchtime; croissants, scrambled egg and smoked salmon.

Five hours later we have our meal, followed by pudding.

Usually we're all too full to have the pudding.

Clayhead · 04/12/2011 20:50

I don't like Christmas dinner either, neither does dh (we realised after cooking them for years) so now we don't have it!

Never liked a starter with it though - no need with all that food.

Sixyearoldwoes · 04/12/2011 20:51

Yanbu Smile

bigTillyMincepie · 04/12/2011 20:52

YANBU - we never have a started for Christmass dinner - mainly because we will have been stuffing food and drink all day before, and also because we like humungous plates with all the trimmings. And Christmas pud Blush