Christmas starter yay or nay?

[Drogonssmile]

I grew up having smoked salmon and or prawns as a starter with my christmas dinner and DH said his family never had a starter.

We are having his parents round for christmas this year.

I LOVE my starters so am a bit disappointed. WWYD? I can hardly just make one for me can I?

Your house, your Xmas, your rules! If you want to do starters, then do them! They might just enjoy them so much they have them every year!

Do it! DH and I had very different Christmas traditions growing up and we've had to compromise. So we have a takeaway Christmas Eve because of me, and two breakfasts because of DH.

I think, the more food at christmas, the better.

Excellent! Thank you.

I would go for the smoked salmon and prawn starter! You could always serve as canapés before the main meal instead of a sit down starter if you wanted.

I will do little ones for them so they aren't whinging they're too full etc etc but I then get to scoff loads of salmon and the kids like salmon too (expensive taste )

I do M&S party food as starters particularly their Brie and Cranberry parcels. Wil not serve at the table
more buffet style maybe an hour before lunch giving time to digest and not feeling full before lunch. I was looking at them yesterday and will buy soon and put in freezer to get the 3 for 2 deal

DeadDoorpost two breakfasts - how? Why? I’m very intrigued.

DH's Mum never does starters, I think because they never had masses of people at Christmas and DHs family aren't foodie types. Mum was regularly feeding 16+ and we always had a soup course and a fish course before we got to the turkey. We've got all of DHs family coming to ours this year and I will be serving a starter.

Definitely starters. When we were kids we also had soup and fish, then the turkey, pudding, cheese and finished us all off with a mince pie or Christmas cake. Proper Christmas feast.

The starters and Christmas pudding are what make the dinner.

I like a starter at Christmas lunch. It makes the meal a bit more celebratory I think. It only needs to be something light, fish pate for instance.
Serving a starter gets everyone settled in their places, wine poured etc so is a nice beginning to the meal.

I think it's essential! And your house, your rules

We’re going for canapé style starters for DH and I (but not for the children as don’t want to spoil their appetite).

We don't have starters, even canapes an hour or so beforehand dulled our appetites too much when we tried it, so at the most there will be some posh crisps late morning. I've never been served a starter before Christmas dinner in anyone else's house either.

We always have starters

We always had salmon mouse home made BRILLIANT recipe only 5 ingredients a nbb d pate. But after I've taken over it's salmon something from the supermarket and pate.

We do a starter but always end up too stuffed for pudding which we may or may not get runs to later. I still have last year’s pudding in fact which will save me buying one this year.

We do love starters though so it’s a tricky one.

@IHeartMarmiteToast Fab username! Making me feel hungry 😋

Would you share the salmon mousse recipe if it's not a family secret?

Nope. Christmas lunch is sufficient! If entertaining a crowd I would do trays of nibbles though.

We never have a starter, it's never crossed my mind to do one. Never had one at home when I was growing up either.

I like canapés a few hours before instead, with fizz

We always have a soup course, a fish course then the turkey

Mil does a platter as a starter, rather than individual portions, so everyone can help themselves to as much, or as little, as they like. Less work for her and no whinging from guests.

@balloondog I'll have to look it out for the exact recipe but ingredients are cucumber, tinned salmon, mayonnaise, plain yogurt, and gelatin. Sounds revolting but is AMAZING especially good on toast tge next few days mmmmmm

Your house your hosting do a starter!

Yay, and it has to be prawn cocktail, it's the law