Your best starter ideas for the big day

[Gapants]

Go on, share please.

I have 8 to cook for, have massive turkey and all the trimmings, a christmas pud and a pavlova for afters, my french SIL is bringing cheeses..I need a starter. Notice I have French family to cook for, so needs to be excellent, and easy to put together, maybe something I can do the day before?

Many Thanks MNs!

Half a tin of quality street?

Sorry thats as culinary as I get

Do you really need a starter with all that food? In the interests of being a fabulous host though what about some nice aperitif/cocktail while all are assembling and then everyone sits down for the main event?
(I was quite chuffed when I saw this was Nigella's approach and she's got lots of lovely drinks recipes in her Christmas book!)

Oeuf mayonnaise? A home made chicken liver pate avec croutes? Smoked salmon with a horseradish dressing? Crudites avec bagna cauda? These spiced chicken livers from Tamsin Day-Lewis are bloody divine and sure to impress any passing Frenchman. I'd ditch the chicory to be honest and just serve the livers standing up with drinks and not bother with a "sit-down" starter if you can help it.

Put out a chopping board with a couple of different whole salamis and a sharp knife. Add a bowl of cornichons or pickled onions to go with and let everyone help themselves with their aperitifs. Little bowl of quails eggs with some celery salt to dip into.

I'd go for an aperitif and some informal nibbles. Little tartlets, or pate? I like the look of these
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8861/stilton-and-chutney-rarebit-bites
If it's a good hour before the meal then some mini mince pies as well?

Ooh, what snowman says, or just some smoked salmon blinis and prawn/salmon bits with crème fraîche, dill and lemon.

Mmmh. Hungry now.

My sister does a Stilton and pear salad. With some kind of raspberry vinegarette. It is a lot nicer than it sounds!

I like gravalax with squeeze of lemon and watercress on the side

dead easy
and
very

YUM!

I am going to do a big platter of smoked salmon, trout and eel and some spiced peri peri prawns with various sauces- a spicy dill, a classic cocktail and sweet chilli lime one. On a big layer of gem lettuce, watercress and rocket leaves. Lots of granary and Rye Bread. Served with pimped up prosecco. Thank you for all your suggestions. Getting very excited!!

oh my goodness you mumsnetters have just solved a huge worry for me! i was awake last night wondering if i could just ditch the starter altogether (feeding 11) cause the thought of clearing away starters to reset for main whilst watching the roast potatoes and stirring the gravy....i was ill last thinking about it!

now, after reading this, i know exactly what im going to do. ditch the sit down starter and just pass round smoked salmon belinis and pate on something (melba toast?) whilst they sip on their cava. perfect. no plates, just a napkin. they can all nibble and sip while i cook. table is still set for main. dont care about perfection after that but i will be on the ball til i sit down to the main, then i will chill and enjoy.

thankyou!!

sounds pretty perfick to me mrsm