Stuck for a starter

[DeMaz]

Ok, I'm having 3 good friends for supper at mine this Saturday. I don't see them very often due to busy schedules so I would like to make it a bit special with starters, mains and dessert....

Main meal will be Octopus in Red Wine sauce with rice and salad

Dessert will be both Eton Mess (nice and easy and bloody yum) and cherry pie.

I am completely stuck on a starter. Any ideas? It can't be:

• Soup (unless you have got a really easy, throw-in-a - pan, whizz -with -hand -blender jobbie)

• Something too filling i.e too much bread.

Anyone have any quick but tasty ideas?

Thanks.

Melon and Palma Ham?

Thanks lady. I love Melon. Two of them hate it....

Prawns with garlic and chilli infused olive oil?
Baked Brie or Camembert?
Wouldn't be too filling if you share and cut the French bread really thin.

Portobello mushrooms stuffed with pate?

Grill the mushrooms till they've started to soften, then dollop pate in. Add a small knob of garlic butter & sprinkle of mixed herbs. Pop back under the grill for a few minutes till butter melts & pate is heated through.

Ramiro peppers cut lengthways, seeds removed but keep stalk, then stuffed with Philadelphia cheese mixed with chopped spring onions and bacon then baked in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Naturally, the filling can be adapted to your preferences, but the spring onion and bacon does work really well.

Drool

Ooh.....Great ideas! They all sound delicious.

Thanks

Asparagus roasted in parma ham. Wash the asparagus and break off the woody ends, wrap each one (or two or three at a time) in a slice of parma ham. Put in a roasting tin and drizzle with olive oil. Roast (not sure how long for though) and serve drizzled with oil from the tin or with a garlic mayonnaise. HEAVENLY.
(I usually serve three stalks of asparagus per person - wrapped individually.

This sounds so good.....and easy!

Thanks all.