Christmas meal starters ?

Bogof_Babe

Cheers Snaggles, that sounds delish. We have some veggie Worcestershire sauce in the cupboard too. And some sherry! In fact I've got all those ingredients except the cream. Thanks so much, I will be trying this out soon.

mollymunchkin

We are having breaded camenbert cheese and cranberry sauce with a few salad leaves to start. Not too heavy or filling

Snaggles

Bogof_Babe wrote:

Cheers Snaggles, that sounds delish. We have some veggie Worcestershire sauce in the cupboard too. And some sherry! In fact I've got all those ingredients except the cream. Thanks so much, I will be trying this out soon.

Never occurred to me that worcestershire sauce wasn't veggie, sorry! :doh: So, erm, for veggies, use veggie worcestershire sauce, or if you can't get hold of it, a little bit of english mustard would give it a bit of a kick!

(Lucky no-one in my family is a strict veggie!)

Snaggles

Breaded camembert & cranberry sounds lovely, I might try that. I'm pregnant and not supposed to eat camembert (I'm really craving it too!), but apparently it's okay if it's cooked, because it kills off any possible listeria.

MFewings

Im cooking for 16 and as we have varied tastes im offering a choice of starters.

Prawn Cocktail
Pate & Toast
or
Melon & Strawberries.

Everyone has chosen their starter and choice of veg for main course in advance so I know im not preparing and cooking food to be wasted.

morganlefay

We have never had starters either and for two reasons - one because having smelt the turkey roasting away all morning thay are desperate to get at it (and all the trimmings - I think they like the little sausages more than the turkey - why don't I just feed them on little sausages I wonder ?) and secondly because it just makes more washing up and last minute fuss you can do without. Sometimes I put smoked salmon on slices of brown b&b, squeeze lemon over, grind of black pepper and then cut them into little triangles which we have just sitting about (not at the table) with our pre-lunch bubbly. Yum .
But can I just say about Christmas lunch that if you're doing it in your house then you do it your way - even if you have never done it before it isn't meant to be scary (it's really only a big chicken) and now is the time for you and your OH to invent what will be your family traditions in future, so have balloons or make them all go for a run before you feed them, or play pass the parcel, or anything YOU fancy because it's your Christmas lunch and they should all be jolly grateful that you are doing it all for them anyway. So be bold, make the decisions, ignore the mother/mother-in-law looking a bit sniffy and saying 'we always have soup' - the answer is (if you aren't having soup) 'well we don't, we like playing pass the parcel - or whatever - better.'
I hope you have a lovely day and that it all goes really well, and just the way YOU want it.

stressed_mum_5

can you let me have the for thje roasted peppers / cheese thing recipie???? thanks

Teahfc

I dont know too many things ..But do know about Avocados as I import them.

First things first
Only buy Hass variety ( all the Stores sell them) they are darker in colour and have a more creamy texture and nutty flavour than there greenskin cousin.

The Supermarkets sell a Ready to eat Avocado and when you buy them loose take them in your palm and cup them like you would a cup of hot drink on a cold day. Then with the whole length of your thumb slowly press inwards and you should feel a 'give' in the fruit. Try a couple to get a idea of them.

Avocado this time of year are avocado's. None of the supermarkets has a better Hass than the other its all about size .. so Marks & Spencer buy and sell the biggest and the Morrisons and co-ops of the world go for a smaller fruit better value.

I would purchase Tesco or Asda or Sainsbury ready to eat pack of 2/3 as they offer value and normally have the pressures better but thats my opinion only.

ALso lok at the top of the fruit where the stalk is it should be free of any Greyish colour, and best to buy with a small stubby stalk still in the fruit.

As another alternative starter try Figs cut with a cross at the top and opened up with some Stilton/blue cheese put in the top in the oven for 5 minutes.
Wrap in parma ham or similar with a WET cocktail stick through it for the non veggie option.

Anyone want further info on Avocados pm me :j

jenk_3

For starter this year Im offering either pate with melba toast or smoked salmon parcels filled with salmon mouse with cracked black pepper and lemon. Although now Ive read the soup with star crouton idea i may add that to the offerings too

Jenk

thriftlady_2

morganlefay wrote:

But can I just say about Christmas lunch that if you're doing it in your house then you do it your way - even if you have never done it before it isn't meant to be scary (it's really only a big chicken) and now is the time for you and your OH to invent what will be your family traditions in future, so have balloons or make them all go for a run before you feed them, or play pass the parcel, or anything YOU fancy because it's your Christmas lunch and they should all be jolly grateful that you are doing it all for them anyway. So be bold, make the decisions, ignore the mother/mother-in-law looking a bit sniffy and saying 'we always have soup' - the answer is (if you aren't having soup) 'well we don't, we like playing pass the parcel - or whatever - better.'
I hope you have a lovely day and that it all goes really well, and just the way YOU want it.

:T :T Hear, hear