'Starter' at Christmas Dinner - yay or nay

[Bearlyawake]

Lighthearted household debate...

We are hosting Christmas this year. Will be dinner with all the trimmings. Earlier, DH asked if we will be having a starter, his family usually do one. I said I couldn't really be bothered, I can't really see the point of having a starter before eating a big old Christmas dinner and hopefully some Christmas pudding afterwards.

He maintains that having a starter makes it more of an occasion rather than just another roast dinner.

So...

YABU - Where's your sense of occasion? Of course you need a starter!

YANBU - we will already trough enough food on Christmas day, we don't need a starter!

Side observation - if you say the word starter too much it starts to sound like a fake word, if you know what I mean.

Starter is wrong with a roast dinner.

When I was a child I loved the starter, but once I had DD (and also my niece at Xmas) having a starter just seemed to confuse them with all the bobbing up and down between courses. So now we just have crisps & dips with drinks beforehand, useful as my neighbours are also coming over for some alfresco fizz beforehand (hoping it doesn't rain). Anyway we have smoked salmon + blinis for bf.

I've never had a starter before xmas dinner. My DM never did it while we were growing up so it just seems unnecessary to me. Definitely drink prosecco though

Any recommendations for non stodgy veggie canapes?

We always have breaded camembert with raspberry coulis. That's about as posh as it gets for us

@ILikeStrongTea

Prosecco is a starter, right?

Someone talking sense 😎

'Cauliflower cheese with Christmas Dinner - yay or nay' feels like it could be a whole other thread

@Bearlyawake

'Cauliflower cheese with Christmas Dinner - yay or nay' feels like it could be a whole other thread

I hate it, so it's a big no for me

but Christmas dinner should be what you enjoy, have a pizza, lobster or a turkey, no one needs "rules" for Christmas.

@Bearlyawake

'Cauliflower cheese with Christmas Dinner - yay or nay' feels like it could be a whole other thread

Yay! Love it.

Nay to sprouts though.

@Nottherealslimshady I was also quite anti sprout until I discovered sautéing them rather than boiling. Delicous!

Oh I love Brussels sprouts if they’re done well. You can roast them and that’s delicious too.

@Bearlyawake

'Cauliflower cheese with Christmas Dinner - yay or nay' feels like it could be a whole other thread

It's a YAY! from me!

We enjoy our starters as an evening snack as we are so stuffed from the nail meal and pudding.

It makes a nice light supper.

I don't want to miss out on starters so this seems a nice way to enjoy them on the day.

Nay. The aim is to make it to dessert and all conditions should be nudged in favour of that outcome. Starters are dead weight.

Cauliflower cheese with Christmas Dinner - yea or nay

It’s a nay for us. We usually do a lovely macaroni cheese in January to use up all the leftover cheeses (including Stilton) but this year we’ve got to be more health conscious so we’ll likely do a cauliflower cheese instead.

@Ginfordinner

Any recommendations for non stodgy veggie canapes?

Delia has some great little puff pastry tarts in her Christmas book. Could easily make 3 or 4 veggie variations.

Vol-au-vents filled with veggie cheese (or usual cheese if rennet isn’t a problem) and cranberry sauce.

Blinis topped with a roasted beetroot and sour cream salad.

Devilled eggs.

ILikeStrongTea
Prosecco is a starter, right?
Someone talking sense 😎

Pleased to be the voice of reason on this thread.

I like the sound of devilled eggs. Vol au vents would be too stodgy and filling. I thought of something after I posted though - those platters of anti pasti with olives, roasted tomatoes etc.

@Ginfordinner

I like the sound of devilled eggs. Vol au vents would be too stodgy and filling. I thought of something after I posted though - those platters of anti pasti with olives, roasted tomatoes etc.

Yes that would be perfect!

@Bearlyawake I did an awesome recipe last year with peas and honey and it was amazing, only let down by the sprouts still being sprouts!