suggestions for starters

[pumpkinpasties]

I'm cooking xmas dinner for the first time ever and its for my parents and in-laws (who only like 'english food') what can I serve as a starter, I need it to be relativly easy.
when mil makes a dinner we always have prawn cocktail as a starter, which I don't mind but I want to make them think I'm not totally useless in the kitchen, so in short something

• easyish to prepare
• 'english' food
• looks (and tastes) fab all suggestions welcome ta x

Watercress soup and soda bread?

Last year I made a quick pate which went down well (and you can do it at least a day in advance).

How about Smoked mackerel pate

or

Hot Smoked Salmon Pate

Both are lovely with some thin toast

Can't go wrong with smoked salmon and rye bread.
Or blinis and sour cream with salmon/lump fish roe.

Got a lovely recipe for onion and stilton soup if you want it.

I'm a big fan of salads as starters because they aren't too filling and they don't need cooking, only assembling, so you can get anyone to help. Beetroot, goats cheese and walnut is lovely (try to get un-vinegared beetroot if you can); as is the more traditional pear, stilton and walnut. Or you could have the smoked mackerel that Stirling suggests in a salad with some watercress.

thanks everyone, i think i'll go with the fish pate ta x

potted crab?