Do you have a starter for Christmas lunch?

[SevenElvesAndAReindeer]

And if so what?

We're having my parents round for Christmas lunch this year, the last couple of years it's just been me, DH and the DCs (DS is 4 and DD 1) so we haven't bothered with starters. However when we've had Christmas at my parents house pre-DCs they've always done prawn cocktail. no prawns here this year as I'm pregnant so looking for other ideas if a starter is actually necessary.

no. i am not organised enough for that.

I'm doing mini hadddock mornay this year. It varies, last year we had baked camembert and in the past I've done souffle, duck salad, melon and ham. Always something light.

We do a warm prawn salad - not as disgusting as it sounds - or pate on toast, which again isn' t that helpful if you are pregnant.

I don't think a starter is necessary though. It just sort of crept in.

I do, but always stuff that doesn't require cooking and can be done the night before and sit in the fridge - melon balls with port dressing, that kind of thing.

I do nibbles as a starter which I find more relaxing - this year will have blinis with smoked salmon & creme fraiche, mini cheese scones, olives, breadsticks, pate & toast. We won't have those at the table which means I can set the table for the rest of lunch. Plus it means the kids don't have to sit at the table for so long.

Squeeky Cheese (Grilled Halloumi) with a little salad. I could eat a whole block myself mmmmm.

I remember with ds1 my midwife told me prawn cocktail was fine in pregnancy as the prawns have already been cooked and are pink

other than that how about a nice soup

Thanks, I think something with smoked salmon would be good.

allonsy my MW said prawns are ok as long as they're really hot, but cold ones were a no.

I do canapes with chammpage before the main event.

Champagne even. I have no idea what chammpage is

Hmm not sure then, i asked so i could have prawn cocktail for christmas dinner, she said only the fresh grey ones have to be cooked to hot and pink ones eg store bought sandwiches etc were fine, that was 7 years ago though

We don't tend to bother much when there is just the 4 of us. In the past we have had Pate or Prawn cocktail or mushrooms done in red wine and garlic served on toast and the old standby, Turkey broth!

When ther eis just us, we have a late breakfast, if Dinner is going to be any later than 3 oclock, then we would have a starter about 1.30ish to keep us going - so maybe a bowl of soup or something and then just have a main for Christmas Dinner - dessert tends to happen at some point later on in early evening.

We do canapés with Champagne that come out about an hour hour so before lunch. I try and time it before the opening of something that needs building so DD (3.7), DH and my dad can build it while Mum & I go to the kitchen. We take the Champagne bottle with us. We are happy as we love cooking and they love building things. This year the are building a Playmobil house.

yes, OH and I always scoff a bottle of bubbly while doing the cooking - I do the meat and he does the veg - that keeps us at opposite ends of the kitchen so no squabbling over oven space and gas rings - I do the roast veg too, basically the oven and microwave are my domain and he gets the hob!

Last year we had a black pudding and bacon stack with holandday sauce

This year were have blackpudding, flat sauage, bacon and a fried egg all stacked up with a dizzle of brown sauce around the stack

Other things we have used is
Homemade soup
Prawns

Xmas starters are just wrong! Why would you fill up on prawns or soup when you could be digging in to a golden turkey, roast veg, stuffing and pigs in blankets?!?

What's wrong with you people?!?

We have smoked salmon, prawns, lettuce, sauce and brown bread.

The non fishy people have pâté and toast.

I have eaten prawn cocktail and smoked salmon once a year through all 3 of my pregnancies.

Because we eat starters about an hour before the main is served soaks up the bucks fizz and it stops me eating whilst I serve

I can also eat pavlova, cheese and biscuits, chocolates and baileys not forgetting the Christmas dinner sandwhich later in the evening.

Undoes button of size 8 trousers.

No. Am cooking for 9. I think getting a main course and pudding out will be a feat in itself.

Besides some of the guests are too fussy so would be tricky to find something to suit.

In past years I have made a soup. Made it day before, and just reheated on the day.

I agree with secretsanta I don't understand starters at Christmas.

I bet you all leave about an hour between courses too and don't sit down for lunch until 3pm.

Nibbles to have with champagne - blinis, smoked salmon, bacon wrapped prunes, crostini with olive tapenade all good.

Breakfast: bacon sandwiches

Lunch: turkey and trimmings

Dinner: turkey sandwiches

Now that ^^ is Xmas!

We don't have starters either, too full and as there are always at least 11 at the table, impossible to find something everyone likes. Something light like a small serving of foccaccia with fresh tapenade might be nice though.

Post Christmas dinner sandwich:

Bottom slice of bread - then:

Layer of Bread Sauce
Turkey
Gravy
Stuffing
Cranberry
Sausage & bacon things
Top layer of bread

Have been known to sneak a roasty or sprout on there too.

Mmmmmmmmm

p.s I know that wan't the question but it's made me hungry