I am having some friends over for dinner on Friday and I am looking for some new ideas for starters?

Question

I am fed up with the usual Prawn Cocktail and Smoked Salmon etc can anyone give me any other ideas

thansk

Answer 1

Stuffed mushrooms, perhaps? Or

Tiny Roquefort Popovers
Use mini-muffin pans with a nonstick finish so the popovers are easily freed from the cups. As noted in the recipe, you can reheat them but do not refrigerate, or they will become irreversibly soggy.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/4 cups milk, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
3 oz. Roquefort or other strong-flavored,
crumbly blue cheese, crumbled

Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 450°F. Generously brush one 24-cup or two 12-cup mini-muffin pans with vegetable oil.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, white pepper and parsley. In a large measuring cup, whisk together the milk, eggs and butter. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and whisk together until just combined (don’t worry if a few lumps remain). Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups to within about 1/4 inch of the rim (about 1 1/2 Tbs. each). Place a scant 1 tsp. crumbled cheese in the center of each filled cup.

Bake for 10 minutes. Do not open the oven door during this time. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake until the popovers are brown and crusty and fully puffed, 8 to 10 minutes more.

You could also do small pizzas cut into triangles for a starter. Just don't serve too much or have them be too heavy.

Answer 2

Barbeque Chicken Quesadilla
Recipe #201463
This is a true favorite at all my parties... people devour it!I. You can grill your own chicken or buy Purdue's pre-cooked chicken strips.

Somtimes I use beef instead

8 servings 17 min 10 min prep
Change to: servings US Metric
4 (12 inch) flour tortillas
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
12 ounces chicken breasts, chopped
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese

Not the one? See other Barbeque Chicken Quesadilla Recipes
< 30 mins Appetizers
Mexican Appetizers
Chicken Breasts Appetizers
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix chicken and BBQ sauce.
Layer all ingredients over tortilla top with other tortilla.
Place in oven for 7 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Serve with Sour Cream, salsa and guacamole.
and if you like lettuce or tomato on the side

Answer 3

BASIC BEEF STARTER.

INGREDIENTS
2270 g ground beef
440 g onions, chopped
9 g garlic cloves, minced
336 (12 ounce) bottles chili sauce
1 (.75 ounce) packet dry brown gravy mix
28.4 g onion soup mix
6 g salt

DIRECTIONS
In the oven cook the beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook for 10 minutes or until heated through. Cool. Place about 2-3/4 cups each in four freezer containers. May be frozen for up to 3 months.

Answer 4

I have a great side dish idea that was a hit the other night at my dinner party. Very easy to make.

Cut up bacon into small pieces, sautée until almost done.
Add a bag of the pre-cut broccoli and sautée w/ the bacon so that it absorbs some of the bacon flavor. Sautée for about 7 to 8 minutes, once it's done add about 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds. Toss and serve.

Bon Apatite
Shannon
http://www.iammakingprofits.com/pips.html

Answer 5

Breaded camenbert served with a warm cranberry sauce is fabulous! (if you are being naughty you can even add a splash of vodka to the sauce)

Grilled goats cheese on a slice of toasted baguette or ciabatta served with ripe tomatoes basil and an olive oil and basamic dressing is good.

Homemade smoked trout pate with toast (smoked trout lemon juice butter and philidelphia cheese, couldn't be simpler tastes great!)

Good luck have a great evening!

Answer 6

Brie bites: Take one long but thin "baguette" bread, cut along the middle (like a hot dog bun) stuff all the way down with brie or camembert cheeze. Close the bun and put in the oven for about 5 or 6 minutes. Slice in bite size pieces.

Answer 7

Spinach Dip, Stuffed Mushrooms,

Answer 8

If you are having roast beef for the main course, have Yorkshire puds for starters. This is an old traditional way of serving them, (you can even buy them from the freezer section in the supermarket) The idea was that the more puds you eat, the more meat you can have!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

portabello mushrooms (the great big flat ones) turn upside down, place a 1/4" thick slice of your favourite chese (stilton etc for flavour) and wrap in 1 slice of parma ham (so the edges of the mushroom are still exposed), sling it in the oven on medium heat for about 20-25 mins till the cheese has melted and the mushrooms are nice and juicy... try 1 before you decide... they're amazing!!

Answer 10

Squashed Cherry Tomato and Smashed Olive Bruscetta

2 handfuls cherry tomatoes
1 handful black olives
4 to 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
A drizzle herb vinegar
1 dried chile
A handful fresh basil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 ciabatta or other rustic bread, cut into thick slices
1/2 clove garlic
4 boccacini
Parmesan, for shaving

Try to make use of the wider range of cherry tomatoes available now: yellow, tige, and plum cherry tomatoes for instance.
Simply squash your tomatoes into a bowl. Put one hand over the tomatoes as juice and pips go everywhere. You can be as rough with the tomatoes as you like, as the salad looks much better rough and rustic than perfect and pretty. Then, gently smash the olives on a board with a hard object, like a cup or a rolling-pin. Remove the stones, throw the olives in with the tomatoes, and toss together. Add a few glugs of oil, the oregano, a drizzle of vinegar, crumbled chile, and rip in the basil. Season, to taste, and that's your salad.
Griddle or toast the slices of bread and rub with the garlic clove, pile on the tomatoes, and rip the mozzarella and lay over the top drizzle with a little bit more oil and finish with shaves of Parmesan.

OR (my own recipe)

Toast a few slices of baguette in the oven. Brush with olive oil and garlic. Top with slices of Goats cheese and grill until melted. Serve with red onion marmalade (Fry 1 large red onion until it starts to go brown and then add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and allow to caramelise) on a bed of fresh baby spinach and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar before serving.