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Starter urgently needed!

This is the place to ask other users for cookery advice, ingredient info and technique tips. You are very welcome to pass on your favourite recipes, but please bear in mind that, with over 1,200 recipes on the site, it might be worth seeing if Delia has something similar.

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By tubs 16 Apr 2012 21:45	Starter urgently needed! Help! I need a starter for Saturday night's dinner party and have no inspiration at all. Don't really want to do soup (lack of imagination?) No fish, gluten or hot spices. I know if anyone can help, you can. Thanks in advance. Reply Quote
By Liz from Cumbria 16 Apr 2012 23:38	Liver pate? Don't know if it's your thing but it's one of my own favourite starters - along with melba toast (home-made) and Cumberland sauce. If pate doesn't float your boat, how about garlic mushrooms or some kind of a cheese dip with either veggies or pita "crisps"? Reply Quote
By Liz from Cumbria 16 Apr 2012 23:43	Whoops, Tubs Just realised that you said no gluten. Home-made melba toast might be ok, provided bread is either bought or made gluten free and, hopefully, pita bread can be either bought (or made) gluten free so would be able to use for chips. Reply Quote
By tubs 17 Apr 2012 07:29	Urgent starter Lemain, it's a "Safari" night or sometimes called a "roving dinner party"(one course at one house then move on) so have no idea what the main or dessert is. All 10 of us are English and oldies! Looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks Liz, had thought about garlic mushrooms, not sure about pate as some people can be a bit funny about it (not me though!) Thanks for responding so quickly. Reply Quote
By Yummy 17 Apr 2012 08:42	Starters Look on my profile for Cucumber Circles, I usually use prawns or salmon, but you can use diced ham, chicken or mushrooms. Very easily prepared, light and as you don't know what others will prepare they will easily mix and match with various other courses. Think they will suit your criteria. Reply Quote
By queen of puds 17 Apr 2012 09:38	Starter urgently needed How about baked goat's cheese? I buy the log shaped version & slice it into fat 1" discs (one log makes 3 or 4 & I usually serve 2 discs for a starter). I cut circles of toast the same size, then split them like melba toast (you could use gluten free bread) & I put the cheese disc onto the untoasted side of the disc & when about ready to sit down I pop them under a hot grill for about 10 mins till they colour & puff up a little like souffles. I serve on a bed of mixed leaves, with or without walnuts & a lemony dressing and/or a fresh pineapple with a hint of chilli chutney. Reply Quote
By sam from worthing 17 Apr 2012 13:07	Starters help. delias twice baked souffle. delias piedmont roasted peppers. salmon mousse. delias turkish stuffed toms. stuffed peppers. delias hot and sour prawns. grilled goats cheese and salad. delias grilled onion salad and parmesan and sage. Reply Quote
By tubs 17 Apr 2012 18:06	starters Thank you all so much for your ideas, still mulling them over. Yummy, your cucumber circles sound, well, yummy! As for goats cheese, yuk yuk and treble yuk! I spend half the year in France and love all their cheeses but can't abide goats cheese. OH keeps nagging me to taste a bit and every time I do I regret it immediately. It's so goaty! Will re post when final decision is made. Thanks again. Reply Quote
By Gravy Queen 17 Apr 2012 18:30	Starters I go with Sams suggestions..... You can buy gluten free bread and gf pitta bread. Basically though any pate/dips or chutneys which are bought would need to be checked for gluten. Reply Quote
By Chazza 18 Apr 2012 00:20	Starter urgently needed! Not really a starter but the weather witches predict rain all week, so how about mulled wine and Bloody Marys to help your guests brave the elements on the way to the next venue? Reply Quote
By tubs 18 Apr 2012 07:43	starters Brilliant idea Chazza, does the fact that they all only live about 20 paces away make any difference????????? PS bucketing down here at the moment! Drought? What drought? Reply Quote
By Chazza 18 Apr 2012 11:58	20 steps No, makes no difference. Reply Quote
By Gerry 18 Apr 2012 12:34	starter Fresh figs with chunk of feta or such inside; very thin streaky bacon wrapped around figs; hot oven for about 10minutes. OH liked this and he hates figs. Reply Quote
By Darkginger 18 Apr 2012 13:10	Starter What about a Greek meze platter? YOu could have kalamata olives, hummus, taramasalata (for those who DO eat fish), tzatziki, meatballs flavoured with cinnamon, dolmades, crudites for dipping, and a small Greek salad on each individual plate to go with it all. Always used to be my starter of choice at a Cypriot restaurant we used to go to in Brighton. Reply Quote
By tubs 20 Apr 2012 08:18	Starter decision made! Well after hours of deliberation, I've made my decision, for better or worse!! Beetroot and mozzerella "stack" on a bed of rocket with parma ham and a balsamic "drizzle", served with homemade soda bread. And as a precaution,in case of beetroot/mozzerella haters, roasted pepper terrine (layered with pesto, tomatoes and basil) served with olives and again a balsamic dressing. Thank you all for your suggestions,a lot of which I've taken on board for another time. Love figs, so that's definitely on the list and the greek meze DG was a brilliant idea. Reply Quote