Christmas Dinner - Soup Starter?

[ParadiseLaundry]

T'is that time... I've got my Christmas folder out and am planning my Christmas menu.

I've got 11 in total and usually make prawn cocktail but fancy making a soup this year to cut down on the preparation and faff on the day, preferably one I can make the day before and reheat and serve on the day. PIL are a bit plain in their tastes so I have been told that broccoli and Stilton is out!

Does anyone have any lovely, wintery soup recipes they would be kind enough to share with me?

I made parsnip soup last year with croutons, it was really tasty!

Love the folder, I’ve been planning online but there’s something about planning on paper...

Cream of asparagus is a popular Chistmas starter here, you could make some plain puff pastry stars and float one in each bowl for a Christmassy look.

I usually do curried squash soup. squash onions, curry spices, add veg stock, blend and add cream at the end. It is a beautiful colour and the spices) if you don't use too much are very mild. I serve with naan bread turned on the pan.

I think pea soup with a slice of fried ham on top would be lovely too.

I'm going with French Onion because I can make ahead and then freeze plus my MiL has just given me a rather large quantity of home grown onions.

Roasted red pepper soup would be lovely too, or Greek egg and lemon soup is full of flavour but very light.

Perhaps they would be a bit "wild" for your in-laws?

Here is the Orange and Star Anise ice cream recipe. I only made it once before but it was delicious and a big hit! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/24/jack-monroe-star-anise-orange-ice-cream-recipe

@CiderwithBuda Stationery shopping is always good!

@Crumbs1 They sound great. I had an epiphany when I took DS to the park that I would do a star theme at Christmas (the star croutons were the start of the inspiration though!) , star canapés, star decorations and I already have gold star sprinkles for the ice cream! They will compliment the colour and everything!

@WeeM Parsnip and apple sounds good actually!

@December11 Sounds good, festive, but not too heavy. I think the dilemma is not wanting everyone filling up on the starter!

@AdaColeman Puff pastry stars!! The ideas are just getting better and better! Sadly I think Greek egg soup would be too bold. Once I made some hoummus and they had no idea what it was and when I explained didn't even want to try it!

@pallisers I refer you to the hoummus sort but that sounds delicious!

Star croutons is genius.

Liking that orange and star anise recipe.

Ho ho ho.

I heart the Christmas topic.

PArsnip and apple with cumin. You can use whatever stock, sauté them a bit first and then boil in stock until soft and blend. I usually do 2-3 parsnips per apple.

I did Heston's pea and ham soup last year, using bits of the Christmas Eve ham.

Prepped in advance, not too heavy ahead of the main meal and most importantly tasted good! Think we'll do the same again this year.

Ham in the soup sounds great but we are having chicken and ham as the meats (I might get away with pancetta )

Even DH seemed excited by the star croutons and he is usually not so interested in these things

*Also just seen a typo on my post with the pictures of the Christmas folder. I meant to say it SOUNDS a lot more exciting than it actually is. It came off sounding really smug, so sorry about that

Tomato and basil. Always a winner. My sister makes a really nice BBC food recipe version.

HOWEVER

Last year we did bruschetta with a selection of Pate, deli meats, cheese, mozzarella balls, homemade pico, ndjuda sausage and it went down a STORM. Seriously everyone LOVED it and the choice of little bits meant everyone was happy. Even my dad and my MIL, who NEVER eat starters had a good nibble.

I'm trying to decide between my granny's asparagus soup (very light and subtle) and grilled asparagus speared wrapped in Parma ham.
I suppose I should check if anyone except me likes asparagus struggles to care

We usually have either duck rilette or smoked salmon. Personally I think soup is far too filling to be a starter but if I was to have soup I’d do a light chicken broth or other clear soup.

My Dad doesn't do a starter anymore (which is a shame because if I had my way I'd just have soup, pigs in blankets, roasties and peas.)

Can i throw carrot and coriander into the ring? It freezes really well too.

@mouselove we'll be going to my mums and she always does a seafood starter, but I think I'll take the makings of antipasti platter with me delicious

*Pasto!