Pregnancy-friendly starter for dinner party - I need inspiration please!

[bred]

So, I've got 7 of us for dinner.

The main I have in mind is very simple (chicken in creme fraiche/mustard) so I don't mnd spending a bit longer on the starter but am a bit stumped for ideas - bearing in mind one friend is pg so I'm guessing certain cheeses / shellfish / Parma ham / pate are out. I have 2 tomato-loathers and one fish-hater too (though I'd be willing to give him something different).

Any ideas ... Please?

Risotto.

Ahhh...thanks, but meant to add that the most important thing is to be with my friends.. So anthing which requires too much last minute hassle is out!

soup?

Nachos (will the tomato haters have it in sauce or not at all ?)

Garlic mushrooms

Asparagus (wrapped in parma ham or with hollandaise)

Some kind of tart (caramelised red onion is nice - or feta and spinach - pretty sure feta is ok for pg)

Potato skins with cheese & bacon

Quesadillas ? (pre done and just warmed before)

I was easy, I eat everything, think this whole eating thing has gone mad without reason. I would check first as many mums to be are like me.

I have never known any pregnant woman get sick from cheese, hams etc. Incidently, as a matter of fact, the biggest food poisioning breakouts are casued by shop bought sandwiches. I searched and searched on my last pregnacy to find out the last food poisioning with cheese and could found nothing.

Stuffed my face full of king prawns too! Assume why my boys are so big and strong.

Apart from the things you've mentioned in your OP, anything.
Don't overthink this!
Do whatever you'd normally do!

What i normally do incorporates the stuff listed!

Like the idea of a tart. Soup too filling and I love the excuse to faff with presentation (though I need to work on it!)

Good idea about checking with my friend - she could be eating all sorts!

She can have parma ham if it's cooked. All seafood is fine if it's cooked too, so you could do something with prawns if they are cooked and still hot - king prawns and a dipping sauce? The only things on your list you shouldn't give her are pate and soft cheese, but cheese is more of an after-dinner thing? Again, it's fine if cooked.

simon rimmer did this savory cheese cake thing today that looked lush - recipes arent on the website yet though!

how about carrot and corriander soup with naan bread?

Oh please do this soup:

Roast some red peppers (about 5-6), a few yellow as well, then add to a blender with a few cloves raw garlic, 2 tbs balsamic vinegar (optional) and 2 tins of tomatoes. Blend till very smooth and then heat up in a saucepan. You could put a basil leaf on top for decoration Done!

Delia's Piedmont Roasted Peppers are yum. She suggests using tomatoes (and anchovies) - but I use various things. For pg guests I use mozzarella, tomato (couple of cherry's halved) and few basil leaves topped with grated parmesan. For non-pg, I use goats cheese log slices, or sometimes stilton, or stilton and mushroom (no need to pre-cook) or mushroom and tomato - whatever takes my fancy have festering in back of fridgewww.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/party-food/accompaniment/piedmont-roasted-peppers.html

Also one is baked Portobello mushrooms. Drizzle Portabello shroom with olive oil, fill mushroom innard with mixed up mascarpone, pesto sauce, grated parmesan, top with fresh breadcrumbs mixed with bit more parmesan (or gruyere) and parsley. Bake in oven for 20min at 180C.

Mary Berry does one with baked Porto mushrooms filled with pan fried wild mushrooms, shallot, garlic, parsley and lemon then with creme fraiche added. But think that would be too similar to your main.

Nice tarts - ready rolled puff pastry. Roasted Med veg tart? Smear wwith mix of pesto and mascarpone. Roast off some veg (mushrooms, red/yellow peppers, red onions, tomatoes) in the oven until bit blackened- 20min 220C? And then put on top of pastry with bit of mozzarella, olives, basil and make in oven for 20min 200C? Not sure of timings/temps - so might have to check bit earlier.

And got a really lovely one for Roasted/griddled asparagus salad with balsalmic shallot dressing and parmesan shavings. If you want the recipe let me know and I'll write it out.