Xmas starter help

[The Major]

This year my mum will be cooking the main event, but I want to do the starters.

And as the search function is not working I cant use that to see if there is any other threads about it.

dont really know what to do, prawn cocktails? a bit boring. yorki puds with meat and stuffing? cant eat them as allergic to egg.

dont have a clue really so over to the collective hive mind of PH's best.

what would you do?

[calibrax]

Chicken Liver Pate with Melba Toast?

http://www.tesco.com/recipes/product.aspx?R=1750&a...

[The Major]

good idea but not every one likes pate.


I do tho, loveley stuff

[miniman]

Couple of years ago I did Carpaccio of Beef with Wasabi Remoulade. Pics and rough recipe here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...



Full recipe in Maze by Jason Atherton.

[Odie]

a classic prawn coktail, but make it all from scratch.

Make your own bread and make the mayonaise and ketchup for the marie rose sauce from scratch too. And use decent massive prawns atleast the size of your little finger.

Edited by Odie on Sunday 11th December 16:58

[sc0tt]

Im doing a prawn cocktail for the fishy people and a fan of melon with raspberry coulis for the non fishy.

[Mobile Chicane]

I love prawn cocktail!

It's just that I so rarely get it nowadays since people think it's naff.

[dazco]

Prawns Mandragora

INGREDIENTS

10-15 Prawns
30 g Butter
1 laminated Mushroom
1 Shallot
Pernod (dry aniseed)
100 ml cream
lemon
Salt and Pepper

PREPARATION

Stir-fry the laminated mushrooms and chopped shallot in butter. Introduce peeled prawns and flambe with aniseed. Add cream and reduce a bit. Finish with few drops of lemon, salt and pepper. Time of preparation 10 min Cooking time 5 min


This is superb

[bazking69]

Starters before the biggest meal of the year??

[The Major]

well I dont know what laminated mushrooms are. I have a laminator if that will help

prawn cocktail for most people then, might just have to do that then, if I can find some mayo thats egg free (fat chance I know, got some salad cream thats egg free)

[oilandwater]

Prawn cocktail, mmm yes, try adding a slice of avacardo.

[dazco]

The Major said:

well I dont know what laminated mushrooms are. I have a laminator if that will help

prawn cocktail for most people then, might just have to do that then, if I can find some mayo thats egg free (fat chance I know, got some salad cream thats egg free)

I use normal mushrooms, they are fine.

Just try it before christmas, I guarantee it will be your starter

[Ilikebeaver]

We always have smoked salmon with some bread & lemon and a glass of champagne.
Each year without fail and it's perfect

[captainzep]

Seafood pancakes are a great little Xmas day starter.

I use a Rick Stein recipe but I can't find it on t'internet.

This one is close enough, although I'd leave out the spinach and add some white wine. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/46...

The beauty of them is you can make them the night before, put them in a baking dish, fridge, and then reheat in the oven 15 mins before they're needed.

For a starter, either use your smallest frying pan and make small pancakes or halve big pancakes. Keep a bit of the sauce back, heat it through adding a knob of butter and a squeeze of lemon for spooning over. Serve with a little wedge of lemon and some fresh chopped parsley.

[Griff Boy]

I did an old Delian recipe a few years ago as a starter, went down really well.

Pan fried halloumi cheese with a caper and coriander dressing...... Yummy!

[Melman Giraffe]

Mobile Chicane said:

I love prawn cocktail!

It's just that I so rarely get it nowadays since people think it's naff.

Me to. I tend to mix the prawns with cray fish tails to make it a bit posh.

[Gretchen]

I'm surprised to see do many Prawn Cocktail suggestions... My Mother has made this as a Christmas Day starter every year since the '80's...

[Melman Giraffe]

bazking69 said:

Starters before the biggest meal of the year??

Yes and pudding and then cheese with port. Then sleep

[Crease]

my mum makes an awesome tomato soup, and buys fresh crusty rolls that she warms in the oven before serving.

i cant wait

[Dapster]

Try my mushroom starter from here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a... for a starter