Starters for Christmas dinner - ideas needed!

[AngryGnome]

We are having a traditional turkey roast for dinner, and I need a light starter to go before it.

DH and I are picky eaters don't like salmon, we usually have pate but I fancied something a bit different this year - cooking for 12 which I am really looking forward to, but just want to have something lovely with a glass of champagne to kick off the meal nicely!

Would love to hear any ideas you might have!

we don't usually have a starter as there is so much else. But one year when we had another family so felt had to do something, I did melon wrapped in prosciutto as a canape, handed round with drinks (ie not sat down at the table). Also did smoked salmon blinis which would be no good for you. DO you like prawns? You could do blinis with sour cream and topped with a prawn? Or pate.

Melon and Parma ham
Prawn cocktail
Soup
Bruschetta
Goats cheese or halloumi with salad

Nice bread with olives, parma ham, and dipping oil and balsamic vinegar
We're not having a starter this year instead while dinner is cooking we are going to have some nibbles, so dips with carrots, celery etc, nuts, olives, crisps etc

Would be a lovely juicy prawn cocktail for me, but a goats cheese salad would come a close second.

Christ! I thought the title said started christmas dinner

Prawns and melon?

Ah, good plan, maybe canape/nibbles would be better than a starter. Our Christmas dinner is usually a pretty long affair but as this year we will be joined by a 9 month old and a 2 year old, I suspect there will be rather less in the way of extended drunken discussions, cheeseboards and coffee!

I like the idea of parma ham and melon, and I have some filo pastry in the back of the freezer somewhere so I could do something with goats cheese, and then have dips with celery, carrots etc. Also, I could do canapes in advance and give them to DM and MIL to waft around with - this will make them feel helpful whilst getting them out of the kitchen

puds I am this close to starting Christmas Dinner - last day at work today and in full festive spirit (speaking of which, the Christmas Bailey's already needs to be replaced )

Personally I would look for something that you can do most of the work befor hand, even the night befor!

So

Soup
stilton and brocolie (festive)
Leak and Potatoe

Finger foods
You can buy pastry cases and fill them with several different fillings (make fillins in advance) and have them as an apperitif

Tartlets can be made in advance and cook on the day of

Metzo
So babaganoush (store bought if you want) humus (store bought) olives, served with toasted pita breads

Roasted / baked cheese with things to dunk (communial food which is fun with family)

Prawn cocktail (big plus you can do all in advnace and assemble)

Pata only served with a roasted sweet onion relish, warm toast or posh oven breads

You could to a terrine (make in advance) I do a duck, cranberry, pork and pasterio one

Chippolates wrapped in Sage and cured ham (might not work if you are doing pigs in blankets

Tarlets are in my opinion one of the best to do you can do a load of the work in advance, make different options so lots of choice therefore everyone can be happy, and you can enjoy them with your guests wilst being a culiriney godess.

I also love terrines for these occasions

But a good prawn cocktial or melted cheese is very hard to beat!

Have fun

don't worry Gnome, tis the season to be pissed jolly.

Thanks mummy - lots of ideas there!
Are terrines hard to make? In my more fevered Nigella moments I have pondered making one for Christmas, but never been brave enough to try it.

The tartlets sound like a good plan, I could do something with salmon then, as my dad would probably be a bit distraught to miss out on his christmas salmon. I like the idea of preparing in advance, as don't fancy appearing harrassed and sweaty in apron on all the christmas pics.

puds - indeed it is, time to move on to the port I am particularly looking forward to my New Year bout of gout!

Terrines are easy honest, if you can cook for 12 you can make a terrine.

Find a recipy you like and give it a go honestly you will be fine, it will be lovely! Also you can do ones which are similar in taste to pate etc, you can do salmon rolard for dad!

Smoked Salmon, cream cheese white bread that you roll with a rolling pin (cut crusts off) spread cream cheese top with samlon and ROLL! Cut in to stripes and serve

With terrines you do all the prep in advance, and then can slice and serve with a salad and chutney / relish

Tarlets are so simple to do.

If you want a bit posher you can do them with two or three layers of filo

Ok I can´t help it this is a easy terrine and if you like pata I guess you would like this

Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
175 g onions, finely chopped
1 kg rindless bonedpork belly
175 g rindless backbacon
175 g lamb's orpig's liver, cut into small pieces
2 small clovesgarlic, finely chopped
large handfulparsley, finely chopped
1.5 tbsp choppedrosemary
1.5 tbsp choppedthyme
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp freshly groundblack pepper

To serve
pickledblueberries
beetrootchutney
cornichons
crustybread

Method

1. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onions and fry gently until soft but not browned. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and leave to cool.

1. Put the pork belly into a food processor and chop, using the pulse button, into a coarse but not too coarse mixture. Add to the onions in the bowl. Put the bacon and liver in the food processor and again, coarsely chop, then transfer to the bowl.

1. Add the garlic, chopped herbs, salt and pepper and mix everything together really well - the best way of distributing the ingredients evenly is with your hands.

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Put the mixture into a lightly oiled 1.5 litre terrine dish or loaf tin and slightly round off the top. Cover with a lid or some foil, put into a small roasting tin and pour enough hot water into the tin to come half way up the sides of the dish. Bake for 1.5 hours.

1. Uncover the terrine and cook for a further 15 minutes, until it is lightly coloured on top. Remove the dish from the roasting tin and leave to cool, then weight down the terrine overnight in the fridge. The easiest way to do this is to cut out a piece of cardboard that will fit inside the rim of the dish, cover it with foil, then place it on top of the terrine and place a few weights or unopened cans on top. This makes the terrine solid when you cut it (if you forget this bit it will fall to pieces this is the ONLY complicated bit)

1. To serve, remove the terrine from the dish in slices. Accompany with lots of crusty bread, the pickled blueberries, beetroot chutney and some cornichons

Thank you so much mummy - you have saved Christmas at the Gnome household!

I'm going to give it a go - wish me luck!

Canapes are the way forward. They musn't involve cooking on the day though - there will be enough to do!

Dried figs and goat's cheese wrapped in parma ham.
You could even do your dad some smoked salmon blinis.

I am convinced by the wisdom of Mumsnet!

I am going to have a go at cooking a terrine in advance, and have canapes at the ready, so that i can look calm and unflustered with fabulous hair on the day whilst handing out food and bubbly to everyone.
(of course, I have not factored in the ability of toddling DS to sabotage all domestic goddess plan )

Angry

You will look like a domestic goddess. Terrine will be lovely, canapes will be wonderful

We we used to do christmas dinner, I would get everything cooked and "resting" gravey on a VERY low simmer, and then serve starters, so I could have some with everyone,

The back, bring the serving dishes out (get someone else to carry them)

bring the gravey up to a boil, thicken and serve

Wishing you the very best for Christmas

Best of luck! I'm doing two starters on Christmas Eve (earl grey infused salmon with spicy leeks and caramelised red onion and goats cheese tartlets with rocket) and then they can just be served cold. Will also make canapes available.

I think the prep in advance/other options available thing is best.

Happy Christmas!

showOfHands that sounds fabulous - can i just come to your house instead

Thanks for the gravy tip as well mummy - I shall report back in the New Year!

happy Christmas everyone!

Melon and parma ham, with tomatoes on the vine and caramelised onion

Just brilliant, got loads of ideas now for xmas day, totally sorted.

Weight.lifted.off.my.shoulders