nice starter for Xmas dinner - ideas please!

[harrogatemum]

I usually cook the Xmas dinner for my family (me, DH, DTs, my parents, my bro and his wife plus any hangers on) but this year will have a 6 week old baby so my Dad has volunteered. He is doing lamb (we arent big fans of the turkey) but I have siad I will do a starter.

Any ideas - I love smoked salmon but my SIL hates it so thats out.........

Any recipes gratefully received!!

Melon and forest fruits

Breaded mushrooms and garlic mayonaise

Deep fried brie with garlic mayonaise

pate?

Personaly we don't have starters - I prefer more room for pudding!

Nothing too fatty or heavy - I have a hatred of starters that are so big I don't want a main course...
I like 'little' things rather than a big plateful - maybe spinach and ricotta in filo bundles; or perhaps something prawn based?
Somewhere I have a recipe for salmon (not smoked, don't worry) tarts that are basically an eggy quiche-filling type mix baked in muffin or bun tins that makes a fab starter - think it was from the Times.
You could even do a couple of little fishcakes (go easy on the potato though)

I have this problem every year, my dd doesn't like melon, Fil doesn't eat garlic, cheese or fish and I don't eat meat!!

Soup anyone??

We usually have a delicious homemade golden vegetable soup, with a roll and butter if wanted.

Easy to make, not too filling and gorgeous.

I always tend to do good old Prawn Cocktail.

hmmm pate might be easiest (love cooking but conscious that will have small baby potentially hanging off boob).

Thanks for ideas so far!

somthing small, picky and light

smoked salmon?
crab?
prawns?

red onion and brie tart - a delia recipe
really nice black pudding with salad (frise) and french dressing

goats cheese salad

make a salad on each persons plate with some little gem lettuce a sprinkle of roquette a few roasted pepper strips and a a few toasted pine nuts
put a smear of goats cheese on thin slices of baguette and grill. serve 2-3 on top of each salad

red onion and brie tart sounds interesting - which of her books is it in? I think I hae most of them!

A really nice Christmassy pate (like a brandy and orange one, or something with cranberries in it) with melba toast and a bit of green salad

H mum
its book 2 i think will check for you

what about some antipasti - prosciutto, salami, olives, breadsticks, etc?

we go for prawns or melon balls

might do pata with toast and salad this year oh and dont forget the bucks fizz

We usually have a "starter" of sorts all meandering around with glasses of fizz waiting for the main event - it gets everyone out of DH and my hair and chatting, playing with the kids ets
What I usually do is place loads of "finger food" around and let everyone help themselves - melba toast and pate with grapes around the plate, bagels cut up small with cream cheese and smoked salmon, dips and crudites,boiled eggs with the yolk taken out and mixed with mayo and watercress and bunged back in ( don't laugh - very retro I know - but they get wolfed down!!)all nice, light bung it in your gob stuff !! - that keeps them quiet and happy for at least an hour while dh and I do the final prep for dinner - we don't normally eat Christmas lunch til at least 6pm

I was at a friend's on Saturday and she made pigs in blankets like this:

Take white bread - decrust it.
Cook boiled eggs and mix with onions/tomatoes/cheese and bechamel sauce (you could make filling of your own choice.
Thinly spread butter on 1 side of bread.
Place egg mixture on unbuttered side, roll up and place in 200 oven for 10-15 mins until crispy and brown.

Easy to make and good finger food or you could serve with small salad.

I usually do something that doesn't require cooking as the oven and hob are usually full, and the grill. I think this year I'll probably have smoked salmon with some nice rolls, definitely something light because dinner will be huge and they'll be a choice of deserts.

Salmon Pate

Flake some coooked salmon, pop in a blender with some soft cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice. Wizz round till it's the consistency you like. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with oatcakes.

Or if you line a ramekin with smoked salmon, put some of the pate mix in, wrap the salmon round the pate, chill for a couple of hours. Serve with salad, melba toast or oatcakes.

Melon with port and ginger

Stilton soup

Have a look in the Good Houskeeping get Ahead for Christmas magazine that is in the shops, has lots of good ideas.

Does she hate all salmon, or just smoked? We like Gravad lax as a Christmas starter if it's just smoked salmon she objects to?

not sure on the gravadlax - will check!

Keep em coming, getting loads of great ideas!