Do you do a starter on Christmas day ?

elvis jones

Over the last few years i've done a starter on christmas day and they have gone down well, just wondering does anyone else and what do that do.

Last year i did black pudding, topped with stewed apple and wrapped in pastry.

drunkmonkey

Roasted and Stuffed mushrooms with some Vino, mmm christmas

elvis jones

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Roasted and Stuffed mushrooms with some Vino, mmm christmas

Stuffed with vino................:D

elvis jones

Oh the previous year i did brie wrapped in parma ham and cooked in balsamic vinegar on a griddle pan......yum

dolphin city

black pudding, scallop on top, drizzle of sweet chili sauce, and some salad with croutons and crushed bacon from the cooking of the turkey sprinkled on top

elvis jones

dolphin city wrote: »

black pudding, scallop on top, drizzle of sweet chili sauce, and some salad with croutons and crushed bacon from the cooking of the turkey sprinkled on top

That sounds good but can the sweet chilli sauce not over power the simple sweetness of the scallop ?

Loughc

We usually just do soup for starter most years, I made the mistake one year of filling up on little rolls with the soup and struggled through the dinner!! :mad:

elvis jones

We have homemade soup for lunch most days so it would be like a work day lunch.........don't want that:D

Getting there

We usually have a prawn cocktail under some guise. Very retro

Because we usually have so many people for xmas dinner, it seems to be something that everybody like young and old. Last year it had an avocadoey twist, who knows what this year will bring.

dolphin city

elvis jones wrote: »

That sounds good but can the sweet chilli sauce not over power the simple sweetness of the scallop ?

not at all, it bring out the sweetness and have you ever tried a piece of black pudding with some sweet chili sauce - try it - it is fab.

dolphin city

Getting there wrote: »

We usually have a prawn cocktail under some guise. Very retro

Because we usually have so many people for xmas dinner, it seems to be something that everybody like young and old. Last year it had an avocadoey twist, who knows what this year will bring.

prawn cocktail is probably one of the tastiest starters around - its only the food snobs that turn their nose up to it saying it is so old fashioned - well so is lamb shank - that used to be the cheapest meat in the butchers, but now graces every gourmet restaurant table.

I LOVE prawn cocktail and would serve it with pride and my guests never leave a scrap behind :D it always features in our house at christmas

Das Kitty

I've made French Onion Soup the past two Christmases, mmmmm.

Mary-Ellen

We do a mushroom volevent hmmmmm.
Well for me cause I'm veggie
A combination of ham and turkey gets thrown into my parents ones though.

Pigwidgeon

My mum usually does a prawn and avocados thing. I don't like that so I'd either get some soup or paté and crackers.

candy-gal1

Glass of red!

Keith186

KFC Bucket delish! !!

magentas

I really don't think you need starters on christmas day the dinner is massive and we always have dessert too

Having said that my mam always used to have soup and rolls it's too filling though
Recent years she's been doing prawn cocktail (my favourite especially with a little apple in it yummy!)

The black pudding recipies sound lovely though and not too filling I'd imagine

kelly1939

I dont think it feels like christmas with out a prawn cocktail before the main but thats just me:D

ppink

smoked salmon, philly, prawns mmm mmm mmm!

or

deep fried cheese .

we usually have starter as kind of a late breakfast, maybe 1.5 to 2 hours before dinner and then dessert is like tea later on in the evening.

D4RK ONION

We have prawn cocktails I think, but that disgusts me, so I don't really have anything. Also, don't eat Turkey or Ham, so I have a pretty vegetarian Christmas dinner.

CombatCow

Yeah Prawn cocktail too, or melon with parma ham or smoked salmon and brown bread.

kelly1939

hmmmmmm deep fried cheese might do me some of that too, with honey and mustard sauce:D

dolphin city

kelly1939 wrote: »

hmmmmmm deep fried cheese might do me some of that too, with honey and mustard sauce:D

are ye talking about things like the mozzerrella sticks you get at the pizza take outs. nah that wouldn't do it for me at all. In fact I think I would cry if I saw a deep fat frier out on Christmas day.

ppink

dolphin city wrote: »

are ye talking about things like the mozzerrella sticks you get at the pizza take outs. nah that wouldn't do it for me at all. In fact I think I would cry if I saw a deep fat frier out on Christmas day.

never had those from takeout. ours are deep fried brie/boursin/anything really in breadcrumbs with a sweet and sour sauce!
I use it outside or in utility as the smell of the deep fat fryer drives me mad. Saying that it is only used max 2 times a year for cheese!

magentas

gotta agree that I would NOT want to see or smell a deep fat fryer on chritmas day:o

I love the "traditional" grub

I'd much prefer a cold starter although I'm very curious about the black pudding dishes!
I've had clonakilty black pud as a starter in restaurants but was very plain, just served on a bit of lettuce!
mmm...hungry:D

phasers

A tin of biscuits :cool:

homersimpson

Prawn Cocktail

WesternNight

Melon wedges, then soup, then dinner, then dessert, then Christmas cake.

That's what we used to have. In the last couple of years we've done away with the soup. And I don't eat Christmas cake so it's just a three course dinner for me now

The Lovely Muffin

If we stay at our own house, we don't usually have a starter, but if we go to my auntie's, I think she does a Prawn Cocktail, but as I don't like Prawn Cocktail I tend not to have a starter lol.

I don't eat Christmas cake either, but I do like Christmas Pudding in Custard, mmmm.

Overflow

Selection box ! mmmmmmmm

No seriously my Mam usually makes some delicious homemade sausage rolls. Nothing fancy, but a tasty little snack.

lord lucan

Never bother with a starter tbh. Between leaving room for the dinner and picking at the ham and sausage meat stuffing all morning it's not really needed.

elvis jones

No soft cheese or shell fish as my wife is pregnant. I'm leaning towards a roasted red pepper and garlic soup with homemade bread !

dolphin city

magentas

i suggest that you try out the scallop and black pudding starter before christmas just to make sure. Also clonakilty is the best black pudding to use - it is crumbly rather than dense. Go to Galway Bay Seafoods for your scallops - they are quite reasonable here. the scallopes only take about 1 - 2 minutes to fry - don't overcook or they will be rubbery. Its a great starter with a bit of salad. Not too filling and nice and light - perfect for those who would usually have prawn cocktail.

Konata

Some fruity thing - melon balls or something. NOM NOM

alibabba

Can of Hein with a few spoons of sausage stuffing

Yum Yum

Leaves more waist line for the mains

kerash

melon and home made soup is what my nana makes and it is the best ever - either or both!

dolphin city

kerash wrote: »

melon and home made soup is what my nana makes and it is the best ever - either or both!

can you give us some tips on how to "make a melon"

elvis jones

dolphin city wrote: »

can you give us some tips on how to "make a melon"

Easy, take one person and elect to the dáil..........1 melon;)

kerash

dolphin city wrote: »

can you give us some tips on how to "make a melon"

I dont know how she does it but there's definitely fruit in it :pac:

olaola

Turkey giblet soup. Nyoms! Sometimes we do a prawn cocktail, but it's just too much with all the grub and the two desserts. Then cake!

magentas

dolphin city wrote: »

magentas

i suggest that you try out the scallop and black pudding starter before christmas just to make sure. Also clonakilty is the best black pudding to use - it is crumbly rather than dense. Go to Galway Bay Seafoods for your scallops - they are quite reasonable here. the scallopes only take about 1 - 2 minutes to fry - don't overcook or they will be rubbery. Its a great starter with a bit of salad. Not too filling and nice and light - perfect for those who would usually have prawn cocktail.

excellent thank you!
what would you do for just a black pud starter? OH doesn't like seafood and it's first time we're actually spending christmas together so want to try something nice like pudding starter
sorry if I'm kinda hijacking thread:o

Keogg

We normally have some nice brown bread and smoked salmon... Mmm Mmm Mmmm... You just can't go wrong

dolphin city

magentas wrote: »

excellent thank you!
what would you do for just a black pud starter? OH doesn't like seafood and it's first time we're actually spending christmas together so want to try something nice like pudding starter
sorry if I'm kinda hijacking thread:o

just do the black pudding with the sweet chili sauce - it is to die for - make sure you get the good quality black pudding and get three slices - put some salad in the middle and a tiny little ramekin of the chili sauce - try it - its fabulous. The scallop makes is a lovely seafood starter but without the scallop it is just as good with the crushed up bacon bits (home-made of course,not out of a jar)

magentas

dolphin city wrote: »

just do the black pudding with the sweet chili sauce - it is to die for - make sure you get the good quality black pudding and get three slices - put some salad in the middle and a tiny little ramekin of the chili sauce - try it - its fabulous. The scallop makes is a lovely seafood starter but without the scallop it is just as good with the crushed up bacon bits (home-made of course,not out of a jar)

that sounds devine and exactly the kind of starter I was looking for
thank you:)

azwethinkweiz

I've never actually experienced Christmas dinner with a starter before? Might be an idea though.
Although in my house we're always too stuffed after the main to even eat the dessert lol?!?

dolphin city

we usually have the starter and the main at about 3 p.m. finishing at about 4.30 or 5 p.m. Then everything into the dishwasher, tables cleared, and everything tidied up and cleaned. Everyone into various rooms (never planned but always happens) women and children (lol) into sitting/lounge areas to watch soaps, and men usually in dining room sitting round having brandy or chatting or playing cards.

Then the desserts come out about 6.30 and laid on the table - everyone just helps themselves.

Which leaves just about enough time to be hungry again about 10 p.m. for the turkey / hang sangwich which is traditional.

Posy

Hotaru wrote: »

Some fruity thing - melon balls or something. NOM NOM

Yeah, that's what I do. Something light and refreshing before the HUMUNGOUS plate of turkey, ham, more ham, stuffing, twelve kinds of potatoes... (Damn, wish it was Christmas NOW!) :P

dolphin city

thats like having your dessert before your dinner

leahyl

Myself and my workmates were talking about the Christmas food early - oh dear god i was nearly salivating by the end of the conversation! I'm soooo hungry right now!:D

dolphin city

have a look at the M and S Christmas Food Catalogue for christmas parties - its torture.

leahyl

dolphin city wrote: »

have a look at the M and S Christmas Food Catalogue for christmas parties - its torture.

i'm well ahead of you! Have seen it and can i just say.....OH....DEAR......GOD! The beautiful bronzed turkeys, the scrumptious desserts.....i want that now! Hehe:)