Idea's for a simple starter please...

[Squirrel3]

DP has invited a couple of friends over for dinner Friday and I am a rubish cook.

What is making it worse is that we have been to theirs for dinner a few times and this woman is a fantastic cook, makes everything from scratch, and makes it look effortless!!

For the main course I thought of doing; Lamb shanks with a redcurrant sauce, garlic and rosmary potatoes with steamed vegtables.

For dessert I thought a fresh fruit salad, (nice and easy, no cooking required)

Usually I don't think I would bother with a starter but when we have been there she always makes her own soup and her own fresh bread (served warm, straight from the oven) bloody domestic goodess!

I wish I could be like her but, alas I am far from it...

Help!!!

Never mind Boneym, might do it one day just for me because it sounds lovely.

FANC, I love Sea Bass, they are really hard to catch though. I'd love that recipe! Mmmmm

Ill get it off DP for you and let you have it in the NSC thread. Its very easy though I think, DP doesnt really like food in sauces and things says it ruins the taste, prefers it cooked naturally in just garlic, herbs etc. etc.

small round salted crackers, put half a tspoon of mayo on each, a mussel on top of that and a dash of tobasco sauce on the mussel........... delicious!!!!

Get some pumpernickel bread (avaliable from Tescos) Spread the slices with cream cheese then cut into small squares. It's important to cut AFTER you spread the cheese otherwise they'll crumble everywhere. Decorate each little square with a tiny piece of gherkin/leaf or corriander/slice of cherry tomato etc. Arrange them nicely on a plate and serve with G&T's before you sit down for the main course.