another "starter" thread....

[lilolilmanchester]

friends who we have around quite often are coming over this weekend and am looking for inspiration for starters.

Main course is salmon en croute, dessert to be decided but not worried about that. Just need some ideas for a different starter

Ideas so far are either soup (but fancy something different to soup, I cook soup a lot) or pate (but have done that for these people before). Have also done canapes before.

Nothing with pastry and no fish/seafood to avoid repetition with main course.

Perhaps some kind of salad? Or stuffed mushrooms?

Any ideas welcome, thanks.

Pate stuffed mushrooms

Grill large flat mushrooms for a couple of minutes till they begin to soften. Slather with your favourite pate. Add a small knob of garlic butter and a pinch of mixed herbs and pop back under the grill for another few/five minutes.

I did this when I had friends over - it went down very well. The only thing I'd say is do the caramelising of the sugar on a low heat. The first time I attempted this I assumed that caramelising would need quite a high heat and burned the sugar.

how much work do you want?

melon with parma ham is nice, fresh and classic and take seconds

thanks all. Liking the sound of the mushrooms Ik. Love the sound of the goats cheese Longtin, but forgot to mention one of the friends doesn't eat goats cheese. Melon & parma ham is a classic 120cm, but would like something slightly less simple. Tho thinking about it, might do melon chunks in parma ham with drinks, thanks.

I thought you meant sourdough bread starter!

LOL meltedmincepies!!