Easy starter for 18 people

[RubyLovesShopping]

Need some inspiration please!

Baked cheeses always go down a treat here.

Nice bit of brie / camembert. Slice in Half lengthways.

Mix a jar of apricot jam with chillies and spread just over half and sprinkle with walnuts and put the lid back on. Put in a dish and the rest of the mix on top. Bang in the oven till it all melts.

Do another with cranberry sauce as a non spicy. You can add crispy bacon if you like.

We do this for in front of the tv / with wine. Currently pregnant and missing it soooo much!

Forgot to say then slice a French stick and drizzle with olive oil and bake for dipping in the gooey cheese!

Not cheap, but how about a marinated mozzarella, tomato and basil salad. Made with really good ingredients, it can be terrific, and you can have it all prepared in advance.

DH and I also once did a 3 course meal for 40, and did two kinds of cold soup - choice of pea and mint, or spicy gazpacho.

Smoked salmon pate and fresh crusty bread is so simple.

You need:
Smoked salmon
Philly cheese (full fat)
Lemons
Dill
Black pepper

Shove salmon and philly in blender and shake some black pepper in. Squeeze lemon juice in and mix - I don't get it totally smooth, leave a few lumps in it. Smooth into rammekins and garnish top with a sprig of dill and a twist of lemon rind.

Lovely!

Vintage, but melon with slices of parma ham? Prawn cocktail? Little tartlets - you could use puff pastry pressed into muffin tins with whatever filling you like.

Not sure how formal your dinner is, but I usually do mezze/tapas type things for big gatherings - for every four/six chairs, put out a bowl of hummus, a bowl of tzatziki, a bowl of tara and pitta/breadsticks, a bowl of olives, make up some spanakopita (easy - lots of recipes online) and some mini meatballs - basically you can buy/make as little or as much as you like.

GetStuffezd I make the same thing but with double cream instead of philly. Everyone likes it but me, I find it way too rich. Definitely switching out for cream cheese in future!

fresh figs. quarter them. little bit of dolce latte cheese. wrap in parma ham. put under grill until you decide they are ready. Serve with slices of melon or salad leaves or whatever.

It's really fresh-tasting marzipanned
Also, I like to use thinly sliced cucumber layered on top instead of the lemon an dill.

Greek style meze, hummous, tzadziki, aubergine dip, taramasalata, feta and olives, haloumi (sp?) baked with tomatoes and herbs in little foil parcels, lots of good breads.

Salad Nicoise, colourful, light and summery, can be plated up in advance,

or tricolore salad? um, mozarella, tomato and avocado slices with basil leaves and drizzled in olive oil and thingy* vinegar.

• I keep forgetting what it's called for some reason. That's twice in a fortnight. You know the one I mean though.

getstuffed start is one I have made and it is old - I have a fish tin to place it in and then drop out onto plate for serving

Pear, walnut and gorgonzola salad is delicious and just an assembly job. Mezze style platters also work as PP suggest - if you have an Aldi near you their mozzarella and continental meals are v good value

mmmm, love this thread, lots of ideas!

mmmm, love this thread, lots of ideas!

BALSAMIC!

Balsamic vinegar.

Puggy, you can still have that when pregnant. It is cooked. Or were you talking about the wine?

Goats cheese crostini.

Make up a big batch of caramelised.onions,. few ciabattas sliced, top with goats cheese and the onions. drizzle of balsamic.glaze on the plate and a bit of rocket and tomatoes.

Great ideas here. Mmmm!! I like the idea of the Greek mezze best. Not sure about toasted anything for 18 people. I certainly couldn't cope with that with my lack of cullinary skills.

Some kind of tart? Spinach and ricotta or pea and mint or similar. Can be served warm or cold with some salad leaves and a basket of bread?

Individual filo parcels served with a warm sauce?

My mum used to make something similar to the salmon mouse but using tined red salmon instead of smoked, and some 0% Greek yoghurt. She served it with smoked salmon on top, it was amazing.

Remember to check with guests if making something with walnuts in :)

I think the mezze idea or the baked cheese idea are perfect.

You could just do a bunch of baked Camemberts (slash the top and stick some bits of garlic and some rosemary/thyme in the slashes, pour a bit of white wine over, bake) laid out down the table, with little bowls of radishes, celery sticks etc for dipping. Gorgeous and really easy.

Some great ideas here am favouring the salmon pâté as it sounds soo easy but love the mezze idea too. Keep going.....!

I would do a plate of mixed Italian meats with some quartered figs and olives and a fishy plate with smoked salmon, smoked makrel and prawns. Both far issued with some leaves and let people choose. Provide some nice bread. Looks impressive and dead easy.

"Far issued?" Garnished!