Ideas for a starter or a whole new meal maybe?

[anchovies]

Am cooking for 6 people (meat and 2 veg kind of people) and was thinking I would do lamb shanks with figs and honey with sweet potato mash. Trying to keep it seasonal but am stuck for a starter to go with it. Has anyone got any ideas? Also for a dessert? One of the ladies coming makes fab desserts and they're not my thing at all so need something good! Or has anyone had anything really good recently that I could replace the whole thing with?

Please?!

pavlova is a good dessert - really easy or
molten chocolate babycakes

they are brill - quick and easy and you can make in advance

i serve with raspberries

They look delish! That's dessert sorted! Just a starter now please!

Rocket salad with roasted red peppers (you can get them in a jar) capers, and toasted walnuts. With a balsamic dressing. Yummy. I do this often and peple seem to love it.

Agree with Shrooms re salad for starters. I love lamb shanks, I've done them for dinner parties several times. But they are filling, and usually quite rich. And if you are doing chocolately/creamy dessert, you need to keep starter simple and light. Salad, any combination of ingredients, sounds ideal to complement the rest of your lovely sounding menu.