Christmas starters

[Sloe-Gin Profile]

I could have a Christmas dinner of starters and miss the main event, any day of the year.

I have offered to make the starters for our Christmas dinner with the neighbours. Last year, he made spring rolls, got the sauce mixed up with the brandy for the pudding, so we were all tiddly even before the meal (I think he probably was a long time before that... )
Luckily, we realised before we'd poured fish sauce on the pud!!

So, what to do? Easy, cold, not too fussy or heavy.
I'm out of the habit of making starters, so any help, please...

[WWordsworth Profile]

Retro vol an vents?
Love a prawn or mushroom one.

[KeenCook2 Profile]

I'm a smoked salmon addict ... so anything with that would get my vote!!

Lots of choice between dead simple: soft brown bread, butter, ss, pepper and lemon juice ... blinis with ss and cream cheese ... ss pate on melba toast ...

Today's Observer Food supplement had the "best" in their taster's opinion ss, will have a look and tell you, i think it was a Sainsbury TTD but was skim reading so am not 100% sure ...

[Earthmaiden Profile]

I agree, KC2! My thoughts immediately went to the Smoked Salmon & Crab Terrine which has been discussed this week on the Festive Food' thread. You could probably do something similar in individual ramekins if you were worried about slicing or transporting.

[Amyw Profile]

It’s very retro but I do love a decent prawn cocktail . You can jazz it up with avocado , lobster etc and it’s pretty popular too … unless you don’t like seafood !!

[Earthmaiden Profile]

I would be so disappointed to find avocado in my seafood cocktail!

[RockyBVI Profile]

I have made this a few times. It’s one of those things that is far more than the sum of its parts https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/smo ... inaigrette

[Grasshopper Profile]

Pate on toast or maybe a light vegetable soup.

[Seatallan Profile]

It’s very retro but I do love a decent prawn cocktail . You can jazz it up with avocado , lobster etc and it’s pretty popular too … unless you don’t like seafood !!

Exactly what I was going to suggest (and, in fact, exactly what we're having! I shall include crayfish tails in ours).

I would be so disappointed to find avocado in my seafood cocktail!

My fall-back favourite Christmas starter is proper retro avocado with prawns

[liketocook Profile]

We do canapes now instead of a starter but when I did smoked salmon, prawns of pate usually featured. One year I made simple eggs marie rose as an option as my nephew who wasn't then keen on the other options and it went down so well I made it for everyone at New Year.

[Sloe-Gin Profile]

Thank you. I think Rocky's suggestion is winning by a whisper atm. Thank you. Simple to make and transport next door.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

I go down the nibbly starters or canapé route but smoked salmon is the family tradition

For non seafood eaters then the starters can be based on something like chicken liver parfait, egg or of course faux gras or the various tapenades and similar spreads - the Odesea ones are good if you don’t want to make them

[Suffs Profile]

Thank you. I think Rocky's suggestion is winning by a whisper atm. Thank you. Simple to make and transport next door.

Looks perfect … I try to avoid carbs for a Christmas starter … want to leave plenty of room …

[Suffs Profile]

I'm all organised for this Christmas now .... but I've just seen this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/salm ... hfen_85539

and might have to start planning for next year

It would be marvellous to have ahead of duck, or guinea fowl ... or a brace of pheasants ...

[Pepper Pig Profile]

That looks gorgeous Suffs. Shame its got grapefruit in as it's on the banned list for so many, although there's not much. I shall bookmark that one.

[WolfGirl Profile]

Oh I like the sound of that one Suffs.
Recipe saved.

[Seatallan Profile]

I'm all organised for this Christmas now .... but I've just seen this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/salm ... hfen_85539

and might have to start planning for next year

It would be marvellous to have ahead of duck, or guinea fowl ... or a brace of pheasants ...

On the pheasant front, neighbour (a gamekeeper) offered me a brace only yesterday. Sadly I had to refuse- insufficient space in freezer- but hopefully I shall grab some from him before the end of the season. He's offered to source me some partridge too...

[Suffs Profile]

We have a brace of French partridge in the freezer for New Year

[Lusciouslush Profile]

We have a brace of French partridge in the freezer for New Year

Show off.........!!!!! [insert envy emoticon]

[scullion Profile]

We have a brace of French partridge in the freezer for New Year :bounce:

most people are satisfied with having one - in a pear tree!