WHAT IS Starters for a start......Help please - a.s.a.p.?

Question

A family gathering is organised, half are contributing the main, jacket potatoes and various fillings. The other half are doing the deserts. I have been asked to arrange some "Starters" ...bearing in mind, I am not a great cook, and need to transport bowls of "Starters" over 3 hours drive.
So ideas and recipies would be sooooo greatfully received.

Sorry! I forgot to mention, we are catering for 2O to 3O, Open house, so needs to be easy !!! Ta.

Answer 1

Do a selection - i'm assuming it's a buffet? A platter of smoked salmon, rolled up, and another platter with smoked fish or perhaps a smoked mackerel dip made with smoked mackerel fillets and cottage cheese. Then you could have another platter of Mozarrella/Tomato and Avocado. Little melba toasts spread with pate and topped with a slice of gherkin or olive. All these can be easily assembled when you get there. OR, if you really don't cook. By some quickes or flans or tarts (savoury I mean) and slice up - put on plates with a handful of rocket leaves and some dressing.

Answer 2

Salami and cheese tray - serve with Wheat Thins. Always at hit at any party I've been to. Use the salami that is already sliced and get a few types of cheese - cheddar, pepper jack, Monterrey jack, Swiss and cut them into slices and put them on a tray together.

Chex mix - another hit at any party. You can usually get the recipe off the box, but if you can't you can go to this site and get a recipe for several different types of Chex Mix - http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeIndex.aspx

Chips and dip - get some tortilla chips and potato chips and make some onion dip using sour cream and onion soup mix, and some guacamole and you're set. Here is a good guacamole recipe:

4 ripe Fresh California avocados, seeded and peeled
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tomato, finely chopped
¼ Cup finely chopped onion
¼ tsp ground cumin
3 drops hot pepper sauce

Using a fork, coarsely mash avocado with lemon juice and garlic. Stir in remaining ingredients to blend. (Take the seeds of the avocados and leave them in the dip until you go to serve it, it helps keep the guacamole from turning brown)

I hope I've helped, these are all easy to transport. Starters don't always have to be real fancy foods, just something for people to nibble on before the main meal.

Answer 3

Not a great cook...so do easy stuff. Here are 3 VERY easy ideas:

Roasted asparagus wrapped in either very thinly sliced ham or prochuto. You can find prochuto in almost any major markets now-a-days. A little olive oil...salt and pepper...and put your asparagus in the oven in a single layer at 350. Less then 10 minutes is all you need. Wrap 2 or 3 to make a bundle. How easy is that!!

Mini gorganzola (or blue cheese) pizzas. Trust me...SO EASY! Buy Pilsbury pizza dough in the canister from the dairy isle of your grocery store. Buy a container of already crumbled gorganzola or blue cheese. You will also need a container of plum or cherry tomatoes. Roll out your pizza and cut it with a small biscuit cutter or use your knife to make a circle that is about 3 inches. Brush each circle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with your cheese, top with halved plum or cherry tomatoes. Bake at 350 until the crust is golden and the tomatoes just start to weep.

That was two savory starters...now lets do a sweet one. You will need a fresh pineapple cut into tidbits. (canned is just not the same) Sprinkle your pineapple tidbits with brown sugar, dark rum, and a wee bit of vanilla extract. No measurements necessary. Do what looks good. Roast your pineapple in the oven at 400 till nice and golden. You can serve as is with a single toothpick in each OR when they cool...arange them onto decorative skewers.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Make up a batch or purchase a mess of chicken wings with different types of dipping sauces; salsa and chips, boiled shrimp with red and tarter sauces. All these are usually great favorites for starters. The old standby of Velveeta and Rotel never fails and can be put in a crock pot and plugged back in after you arrive. Hope this gives you some ideas you can use. There are also a huge variety of chips these days that go great by themselves! I buy veggie chips at our local store in a couple of varieties that always go over great for social gatherings. Good luck and don't worry, you'll do fine!

Answer 5

A "starter" is an appetizer. One that would transport well is the following Salmon Spread. It can be made ahead, frozen, and allowed to defrost during the three hour drive:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temp
1 lb. smoked salmon, skinned and boned
3 medium green onions, chopped

Mix 8 ounces of cream cheese with the salmon and onions. Shape into a ball. Cover and refrigerate no more than 2 weeks, or can be frozen up to 4 weeks. Serve with crackers, sliced vegetable and sliced tiny bagels.

Answer 6

How about spaghetti salad? Meat balls w/sauce(you could buy the meat balls & there is a simple sauce recipe on the net),deviled eggs are easy,cheese pot slices(below is recipe).

Ingredients
3 to 4 md. potatoes
4 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Cut the potatoes into half-inch slices. Microwave two minutes or until tender. Arrange slices on baking sheet. Top with cheddar cheese and broil until brown and bubbly

Answer 7

Buy loads of nacho crisps. When you get there - put them on a baking tray - cover with grated cheese, onions, peppers etc, and bake until the cheese has melted. Serve with dips such as guacomole, cheese and chives etc (shop bought!)
Chop up some carrots etc to go with the dips as well.

Its a family occasion!! Just enjoy seeing everyone and don't get stressed about the starters!!

Answer 8

I would go with the soup. Just boil some cauliflower in some veg stock, maybe add a little potato. Once cooked, cool and blend. Transport in an airtight container, reheat and stir in some blue vein cheese. You could take some par baked cheese topped bread rolls and finish them in the oven when you arrive.

Answer 9

appetizers . . . .easy and quick : 1. cheese squares of asstd. cheeses. 2. maybe a salad (since ur not a great cook it's quite easy to put together a sald) 3. carrots, broccoli, celery, cucumber sliced up in a vegetable tray/ witha dipping sauce. 4. mini sandwiches - like ham and cheese or turkey and cheese, hope that helped

Answer 10

Well you get some mozzorella cheese, slice it finely and arrange on a plate with slices of tomato. Season well. You could also get some baguettes slice them finely and put smoked salmon on some, pate on others and ham on the rest. Transport in tupperware.
Sausages on sticks,cheese on sticks, melon on sticks, melon and ham on sticks, cherry tomatoes and mozzorella on sticks.All arranged on a plate work well.
Make a salad with different lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber buy or make your salad dressing.