Help me with Christmas starters!!

[RaisinRainbow]

I know there's not long to get organised around this, and we don't usually do starters, however I'm suddenly overcome with the idea that this would be a good thing.

Not meaty, fishy possibly, something light. Could be cold.

Don’t do it!

Save yourselves for the main event and leave room for dessert!

I’ve never understood how people fit a starter in.

We have home made vegetable soup (dh and i). Kids have Heinz tomato soup

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3198/spicy-roasted-parsnip-soup

I'm not doing a starter but always make a vat of this soup for over Christmas. It's delicious, tastes Christmassy and you can make it in advance and reheat on Christmas day so you aren't spending too long in the kitchen on Christmas day.

I usually do a prawn cocktail ( universally popular especially with the old folk ) but this year am going to make a small batch of blinis. They are simple to make on Christmas Eve. Will top with sour cream or Philadelphia cheese, smoked salmon and/or herring roe, and serve with pre-lunch drinks around 12-12.30

The soup ideas make a lot of sense

bearbehind This has been my thinking, hitherto. I think the pre-xmas panic has started whereby I feel there is not enough. The switch has been flipped this year!!!

Rounds of French bread with a slice of goat's cheese, toasted & served on leaves with a French dressing.

Avocado vinaigrette, very retro!

Pear, stilton and walnut salad

Potted shrimps and toast

Ada I love all your suggestions! Spot on. I had lightly toasted goats cheese with rocket and walnuts served on thin slices of bread running through my mind as it happens.

They all sound delicious - I expect the rest of your meal will be equally tasty.

Tomato juice with or without Worcester sauce

Xmas starter should be something with no cooking, reheating at a push. So soup or salad. I'm doing a seafood salad platter. Prawns, smoked salmon and mackerel.

Breads with oils and vinegar always goes down well. Keep it simple.

Soups is too filling. We have some nibbles courtesy of m and s a couple of hours before we eat.

I'm all for easy starters Raisin! Looking at my list, you could add a scatter of pomegranate seeds to most of them for a bit of colour, especially if you had a child helper to prepare the seeds!

I'll be having pheasant braised with sultanas, dried figs and sherry.
Have a lovely Christmas, I'm sure whatever you make will be super!

We are doing a cheese dip with vegetable crudités.

We are having home cured gravadlax this year, served with salad leaves and picked cucumbers. In previous years we've had a prawn or crab cocktail. I usually get my sister to do starters both prep and serving so I can just focus on the main course.

This year my sister is bringing a seafood platter (prawns, smoked salmon etc) to have with brown bread and butter. Very light and yummy!

The veggies / kids will be having baked camemberts with dippy things!

I don't have starters caus I like to eat more actual dinner and even more dessert ha ha but when we used to go to my ex-bils he'd do prawn cocktails, chicken goujons and soup and every one chose what they wanted x

Smoked salmon, obviously.

My rule is nothing that needs cooking!
I’ve got something seafoodie in a shell from Waitrose that just needs putting on a plate.