Starters any ideas im stumped...!

[Pixel-Snapper]

Ive been asked to come up with a starter for a special sunday lunch party this weekend.

Dont tend to eat starters so im all out of ideas.

Cant be to extravagant as its for my nan's birthday.

Would like to stay away from prawn cocktail and soup aswel.

not to much to ask i hope.

Ow also something to complement the Roast Beef.

Edited by Pixel-Snapper on Friday 26th February 15:18

[mart 63]

How about this.We cook these in the restaurant i work in.Portobello mushrooms topped with spinach,caramelised red onion,melted stilton on top and a touch of balsamic glaze to decorate.With a little rocket salad.

Edited by mart 63 on Friday 26th February 15:49

[Simpo Two]

Pate maison and onion marmalade.


I'm not sure if 'maison' includes toast but if not, add thin toast, or melba toast if you can do it. And a few leaves of something too.

[dirty boy]

mart 63 said:

How about this.We cook these in the restaurant i work in.Portobello mushrooms topped with spinach,caramelised red onion,melted stilton on top and a touch of balsamic glaze to decorate.With a little rocket salad.

Edited by mart 63 on Friday 26th February 15:49

That sounds nice


Something easy has to be a Jamie Oliver salad that was in his first book and is something I still throw together today.

Ingredients

Ciabatta bread
Rocket or mixed leaves
Parma ham/Proscuitto
Parmesan to grate over
Optional egg

Fire up the oven to about 200 odd

bread, crust removed and torn (or cut) into small pieces, put on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil.

throw the bread bits in for a few minutes

Then take them out and lay over the ham

Give it a few more mins until the ham starts to crisp a bit

Take it out

Lay the leaves on the plate then throw the crispy ciabatta over, break the ham and throw that over, top with some grated parmesan and balsamic.

If you have time you could poach an egg and split it over the top, but I rarely do this as it's enough as it is for a starter.

[Wadeski]

you need:

puff pastry sheet
a goats cheese log
fresh rosemary or thyme

simplest version: cut circles in the pastry, place a slie of goats cheese and a sprig of thyme in the centre, bake for 10 minutes until the pastry is puffed. Ta-Da instant cheese tart which people seem to think is much more complicated than it is.

a posher version is to brown shallots, splash in some madeira and reduce to a sweet/sour oniony goodness. Dollop a little of this into the centre of each tart.

[condor]

If it's for your nan's b.day then you really need to have something not too chewy ( think dodgy teeth).
Asparagus spears with butter coating, rolled in a thin ham slice.
Smoked salmon canapes
Very basic but simple, soup and bread roll.
Pate on toast
smoked mackerel and horseradish sauce.

[Mobile Chicane]

What's wrong with prawn cocktail? IMHO it's a hugely under-rated starter because it's so often done badly.

However really juicy fat prawns in a good quality sauce (mix a splash of Pernod in to a bought one) on crisp lettuce in an attractive glass with a dusting of cayenne over has to be one of the nicest starters there is at a reasonable cost.

I love lobster, scallops, langoustines, smoked salmon etc - just not the price.

Edited by Mobile Chicane on Friday 26th February 18:20

[Plotloss]

Amatuers.

Glass of orange juice on a doyley.

[Kneetrembler]

Mobile Chicane said:

What's wrong with prawn cocktail? IMHO it's a hugely under-rated starter because it's so often done badly.

However really juicy fat prawns in a good quality sauce (mix a splash of Pernod in to a bought one) on crisp lettuce in an attractive glass with a dusting of cayenne over has to be one of the nicest starters there is at a reasonable cost.

I love lobster, scallops, langoustines, smoked salmon etc - just not the price.

Edited by Mobile Chicane on Friday 26th February 18:20

+1

[charliedaker]

+2

Mix a bit of English Mustard in for a bit of a kick

[Simpo Two]

Plotloss said:

Amatuers.

Glass of orange juice on a doyley.

G&T and a packet of Chicken-flavour crisps.

[sherman]

Haggis fritters with a diane sauce.

Chop a haggis when cold into round slices 2cm thick and then halve or quarter these depending on the circumference of your haggis.

Then flour the haggis and egg and breadcrumb them

Deep fry until golden brown and serve intermediately with the diane sauce and a bit of green garnish on the plate.

[escargot]

I'm with MC on this one. Occasionally i'll make a bit of a 'posh' prawn cocktail. Replace the prawns with crayfish tails, add a bit of smoked salmon and make your own cocktail sauce (approx 3 parts mayo to 1 part tomato ketchup, splash of lemon juice and a sprinkling of dill & paprika).

[AndyAudi]

Might be worth considering where you're to be preparing/cooking if not at home.

Something simple like,
Baked wedges of Black Pudding & Apple, served warm with a lighly dressed rocket salad. would be easy to do in someone elses kitchen without having to use any of their stuff.

[whirligig]

Wadeski said:

you need:

puff pastry sheet
a goats cheese log
fresh rosemary or thyme

simplest version: cut circles in the pastry, place a slie of goats cheese and a sprig of thyme in the centre, bake for 10 minutes until the pastry is puffed. Ta-Da instant cheese tart which people seem to think is much more complicated than it is.

a posher version is to brown shallots, splash in some madeira and reduce to a sweet/sour oniony goodness. Dollop a little of this into the centre of each tart.

Inspired! Think I'll try this tomorrow

[Wadeski]

Forgot to say - fold the edge of the pastry over the cheese.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Well thanks for all the interesting starters, will be trying some of them in future they sound really nice.

Went with one of Jamies recipes in the end

Grilled Marinated Mozzarella



Went down a treat with everyone even me nan liked it...one thing I did add was some cooked Chorizo.

recipe can be found here

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cheese-recipes/...

[Asterix]

Kneetrembler said:

Mobile Chicane said:

What's wrong with prawn cocktail? IMHO it's a hugely under-rated starter because it's so often done badly.

However really juicy fat prawns in a good quality sauce (mix a splash of Pernod in to a bought one) on crisp lettuce in an attractive glass with a dusting of cayenne over has to be one of the nicest starters there is at a reasonable cost.

I love lobster, scallops, langoustines, smoked salmon etc - just not the price.

Edited by Mobile Chicane on Friday 26th February 18:20

+1

I was going to suggest some seared scallops, a simple citrusey sauce and some rocket leaves - dead simple if you can get the timing right on the scallops (depends on the size).

[Bill]

Wadeski said:

you need:

puff pastry sheet
a goats cheese log
fresh rosemary or thyme

simplest version: cut circles in the pastry, place a slie of goats cheese and a sprig of thyme in the centre, bake for 10 minutes until the pastry is puffed. Ta-Da instant cheese tart which people seem to think is much more complicated than it is.

Although I use squares of pastry and egg the edges so you can pinch the sides together around the cheese.