Light christmas day starters

Johnnyhpipe

Hi,

Any ideas here? I'm hosting this year and we don't normally have a starter. The outlaws do however so i'm just looking for a couple of easy light crowd pleasers..?

Cheers

Whistlejacket

I'd suggest a soup: maybe potato and leek. It's easy to make the day before and takes very little time to reheat and serve. A small portion is tasty and won't fill everyone up before the main event!

Smoked salmon pate is my go-to. Takes 5 minutes and everyone seems to like it.

Smoked salmon, lemon juice, cream cheese and creme fraiche, whizzed up in the food processor with black pepper. Serve chilled with fresh crusty bread.

Loire

Here's what I do every year:

Iceberg lettuce leaf topped with smoked salmon, fried-in-butter crab claws, king prawns & scallops. A bit of Marie Rose sauce on the side and a glass of bubbly on the other side!

Robbie_G

Chicken and Mushroom Vol-Au-Vents the easy way :
need :
puff pastry shells
Chicken
few Mushrooms
Garlic
onion
can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup .
white wine ( optional )
methoid :
cook puff pastry shells as per pack intructions
cook your chicken and dice up , keep for later
saute your onion & mushrooms untill onion is see through and mushrooms are almost done to your liking , add garlic for few minutes ( dont burn )
(if usinng wine add now , just a shot glass or two , reduce down untill amost gone)
add your can of soup and diced chicken
session to taste with salt and pepper
fresh parsly to garnish ( optional )
heat through and your done

HensVassal

Here's a winner:

Simple tomato salad.

3 or 4 slices of fresh ripe tomato on a plate, a few slices (lengthwise) of scallions, a few blocks of feta cheese and a few basillicum leaves then drizzled with olive oil and lime juice. Pinch of salt and pepper too.

It is so simple and quick. It is also so delicious that your guests will actually be starving after it because it is so light and flavoursome that it kickstarts your metabolism into high gear.

SB_Part2

This year I'm making mini beef wellingtons, goats cheese parcels and maybe something with smoked salmon.

Alf Stewart.

Tumbler of good whiskey.

C'mon, its Christmas day after all. :pac:

schemingbohemia

I'm doing a Neven Maguire Smoked Salmon Terrine, saw him doing it on the telly a few months ago, looked lovely.

Recipe is here
http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/foodanddrink/food-special-off-to-a-good-start-this-christmas--recipes-included-434387.html

Easy to prepare ahead - main thing is to chuck it into the freezer for half an hour before serving to assist in slicing.

Anonamoose

Pan fried brie with rocket lettuce and cranberry sauce.

Melendez

This post has been deleted.

Mrs Fox

Can't beat the good aul prawn cocktail.

harr

Robbie_G wrote: »

Chicken and Mushroom Vol-Au-Vents the easy way :
need :
puff pastry shells
Chicken
few Mushrooms
Garlic
onion
can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup .
white wine ( optional )
methoid :
cook puff pastry shells as per pack intructions
cook your chicken and dice up , keep for later
saute your onion & mushrooms untill onion is see through and mushrooms are almost done to your liking , add garlic for few minutes ( dont burn )
(if usinng wine add now , just a shot glass or two , reduce down untill amost gone)
add your can of soup and diced chicken
session to taste with salt and pepper
fresh parsly to garnish ( optional )
heat through and your done

This is something similar to what I do...I always cook filling the day before and heated up in saucepan while pastry cooks...very easy to manage for a group.