starter for a dinner party?

Question

what would be regarded as an impresive starter for a dinner party? something that would be fairly easy to prepare, but go down really well.

Answer 1

A light fruit cocktail like melon balls in a creme de menthe liqure, or a nice soup with bread buns and butter.

Answer 2

This is my favorite.

Brie in puff pastry with apples

1 to 1 1/2 apples sliced thin
3 Tab brown sugar
1 tea cinnamon (or to taste)

thaw a sheet of puff pastry. Roll it out so it is larger than the wheel of brie. Set the brie in the middle and top with apple mixture. Bring 2 corners of the pastry together & twist (it will look like 2 leaves). Bring up one of the other sides and pinch together just under the ends and then bring the last one up. The pastry will have a flap of extra.....just pinch together and try and make it look as nice as you can. Bake at 400 for 20-25 min. The reason I wrap the brie with the pastry coming together on top is so I can make sure all the seams are sealed. If you turn it over you run the risk of a tear or hole and the juice will come out. It really is a lovely dish and people just love it.

Another great one is a platter arranged with nice sliced baguette, roasted garlic (it looks nice if they are still in the flowers) roasted red pepper and chevre (goat cheese). This is easy, it looks nice and the flavors taste great together.

I hope this helps you out.

Answer 3

King Prawn Butterfly

Ingredients
Serves 1

1 Large Crevette King Prawn
Quarter Lemon
Vegetable Oil
Breadcrumbs
1 beaten egg




Method
Peel the king prawn and remove the black vein from along it's back. Using a sharp knife cut along the length of the prawn almost but not quite through. Flatten the two sides of prawn out into a butterfly shape, dip first in the egg and then the breadcrumbs and pan fry for 2 minutes each side. Serve with a wedge of lemon.

Answer 4

A lovely Nigella Recipe, they always go down well! More Nigella recipes on the link, as you can tell she is my favourite cook!

Hot Spiced Prawns
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
1kg shelled raw tiger prawns
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 spring onions cut into 3 and sliced into strips
2 fat cloves of garlic peeled and sliced thinly
1cm ginger peeled, sliced thinly and cut into strips
75ml Tio Pepe sherry
Maldon salt to taste

Warm the oil in a large wide saucepan, and throw in the spring onions, garlic and ginger.

Stir everything around vigorously until the onions begin to wilt, and then toss in the prawns stirring again.

Cover the pan and let everything cook for about five minutes and then remove the lid and pour in the sherry.

Stir again and then cover the pan until the prawns are cooked through and no longer glassy in the middle.

Taste to test and add a sprinkling of salt if you need it.

Pour into a large shallow bowl making sure you don't lose all the bits of onion, garlic and ginger and take immediately to the table.

Answer 5

Thai beef salad is a lovely starter & real easy to do.
Cut the beef really thinly & cook in a little oil with fresh ginger, red chilli, lemon grass & a little light soy. The salad a little Pak Choi finely sliced carrot & red or sring onion. Once the beef is done to your liking throw salad in the wok stir together for a few seconds & serve

Answer 6

Beef carpaccio-Looks like restaurant food and I should know!

Place very thin slices of fillet steak on a tray. Take a lemon and squeeze the juice over. drizzle with olive oil and season. Place 5 slices on the plate you wish to serve it on and cling film. Place in the refridgerator for at least 12 hours. When it comes to serving simply take out of the fridge place some rocket leaves in the cenytre of the place and serve with rustic bread and an olive oil and balsamic dip.

The meat is effectively raw but has been cured instead of cooked. It is very good-Enjoy!

Answer 7

depends on the main course. but... m 3 favs are

-coconut shrimp with mango mayonaise. fresh ripe mangos some mashed and some finely diced with a bit of gram marsala ( indian spice blend ) and hellmans mayo or you can uses mayo and chutney

- minted peas and scallops on a baguette..cook the peas and push them through a strainer add creme fraiche and mint, smidge of sugar.. spread on a toasted baguette and place a seared scallpo on the top..no one knows its peas and it is an incredible taste the mint and the scallop bright green color with the toast and the white.. it really makes a scene( the sea scallops the big ones, slice in 1/2 horizontaly before searing)

- mushroon crostini, mixed mushrooms ( dried or fresh) sauted with a bit of panchetta , garlic add cream and reduce add soft goat cheese should be a thick paste, finish with some flat leaf parsley spread on toasted small baguettes...........top with parsley sprig

I have tons but I think these 3 are the most popular.. easy and yummy

Answer 8

this could be an exceptionally sturdy recipe, that could be a take off french onion soup that I make and all human beings loves. it's going to make an entire loaf of thinly sliced baguette. maximum if that is performed an afternoon forward of time. 5 - 6 super white onions sliced in a sautee pan with olive oil salt and pepper. as quickly as the onions are completely carmelized upload a pair of million/4 c. pink wine or sherry. flavor the onions, they might choose extra salt and pepper. section a million performed! Slice your baguette right into a pair of million/2" rounds and toast the two factors. you additionally could make those the night in the previous to boot, purely enable them to relax and save in an air tight field. suitable in the previous you're approximately to serve spritz gently with beef au jus (you should purchase this interior the food market), unfold with a pair of million tbsp onion, and a couple of length suitable slices of swiss cheese. Bake at 4 hundred till cheese is gently browned. So sturdy!

Answer 9

Breaded garlic mushrooms on a bed of baked leek with butter.
It is simple and is easy prepared.
Soak your mushrooms in egg and garlic. Dip them in breadcrumbs. Keep them in the fridge until needed (Don't know why, but this helps keep the coating from separating)
Have your leek wrapped in tinfoil with a large knob of butter and bake.
When you are ready to serve, heat up your oil until it is just about smoking and then dip in the mushrooms. Fry until golden and then serve them on top of the leek.

Answer 10

Stuffed mushrooms:- Buy large open mushrooms, cook for a few minutes in oil. Make stuffing: White sauce add cooked chicken cut up more chopped mushrooms 1 teaspoon of worcester sauce chopped cooked bacon add grated cheese cook in oven 10 minutes. Delicious.