Easy starter for family dinner?

Question

I am having a large crowd of family over for dinner on New Years Day can anyone suggest an enjoyable easy starter and how to prepare it.

I dont want a website I want something tried and tested by someone using yahoo. Thanks for your answer though.

I also need to point out that some of the guests are vegetarian.

Bump bump you obviously didnt read the little extra bits i have added and it is for 32 people

Answer 1

Here are tons of easy appetizers (recipes) from Betty Crocker's website. I can honestly say everything looks delicious!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/Search/SearchResults.aspx?Refinement=Appetizer&tab=recipes


*Enjoy!


An excellent vegetarian dip!.....

Edit: Oh okay, no problem. Here is one that I actually tried. It's called Asiago Sun-Dried Tomato Dip (who doesn't love dips?) I brought it to my friends house for our Christmas party. I served it with nachos and it was a hit! I did not put it in a fondue pot as it stated too..simply because I did not have one. I served room temperature and it really tasted great. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeID=34152&Source=SearchResultPage

Answer 2

This one is enjoyable and the washing up is almost non existant. Brown whole meal bread the thinnest available. Cut off all the crusts and spread very thinly with unsalted butter,must be unsalted. Open a packet of smoked salmon now at half price from most supermarkets. Cover each slice of bread with salmon slices and cut into 4 pieces in triangles and squares. A drip of fresh, only fresh will do, lemon juice and a very little black pepper. Serve it before you sit down for the main course using napkins instead of plates, with a sparkling wine. Champagne at best but a Spanish Cava or a French Alsace or an Italian sparkling is a good alternative. Not not an Asti Spumante as it is too sweet.
Have a happy New Year and enjoy this first course.

Answer 3

So you have 32 guests some vegetarians some not

1- you could do chicken goujons with a light mint yoghurt.

Get some chicken beast
dice it in chunky pieces
coat in some batter (fizzy water & flour,salt & pepper maybe some herbs)
And dip into hot oil until golden brown
Finally get greek yoghurt (low fat or high fat) and mix in with some mint sauce and fresh mint.

Now you have goujons et dip

2-Make a nice hot soup and serve with garlic bread.

A mixed veg soup with any veg of your choice.

For the garlic bread you could cut some and rub butter and garlic on and grill with some coriander and olive oil

Answer 4

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 5

It's a loaded question and lacks information for us to really help.

Is your "large crowd" 10 or 80 people ?
Are there any vegans or vegetarians ?
Do you want a hot starter or cold ?
So let's try:

Tiny plates of prawn cocktails. Putting the sauce on at the last minute will help.

Champagne pate` on water biscuits.

Monkfish skewers with red & green peppers in mini size.

Home made soup with chunks of crusty warm bread.

Or something as simple and tasty cheesy garlic bread slices.

Mini salmon & hollandaise tarts.

Roast spudz with cre`me fresh and chilli.

The list is endless really. But what ever you decide, Have a very good party and Happy New Year to you and your family.xxx

Answer 6

Fresh raw vegetables are healthy and veganish. You can purchase many types of dips that are low in fat and delicious. Also, fruit slices who ever said you have to have dessert after dinner. For example, chocolate covered strawberries or bananna slices on a tooth pick. Just pick up some candy of your choice melt in a pot on a low heat and dip away for great appetizers. Strawberries are awesome with champagne..
Good Luck and hope you have a great New Years !!

Answer 7

try making your own tzatziki:

1 tub lo-fat greek yoghurt
1 cucumber - grated
6-8 cloves crushed garlic
olive oil to taste

Grate the cucumber and drain so any excess liquid drains out. Blend with the yoghurt and garlic (I like lots of garlic) salt and pepper to taste and a dash of olive oil.


Serve as a dip with crisps, cudites, crackers and can be made ahead of time.

Enjoy!


Sorry - maybe my quantities are a bit low for 32 people. But use your discretion. You can double the recipe or treble it...

Answer 8

Vegetable soup
Red Berries
Fruit Salad
Sorbet

Answer 9

Simplest things:

Small dabs of crab salad, smoked salmon or thin slices of cheese, flavored cream cheese on ritz crackers.

Cheese cubes (gouda, feta, cheddar) with festive toothpicks.

A plate of hummus drizzled with olive oil and garnished with thin-sliced lemons. Serve with pita or sliced garlic bread.

Also try a fruit soup
Basic fruit soup

•2 cups fresh fruit (or re-hydrated dried fruit)
•3 cups water
•3 Tablespoons sugar
•1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
•1 stick cinnamon
•thickener
•cream/yoghurt accent
You cook the fruit in the water with the spices and sugar til it's soft. You take out the cinnamon stick, mash some or all of the fruit, then 1) thicken it with tapioca or potato starch or cornstarch or sago or flour or bread or barley and serve it in bowls with some dairy product on top (cream, creme fraiche, yoghurt, or sour cream), OR 2) thicken it with sour cream or yoghurt and serve up with buttered croutons.

By now you have enough suggestions from all of us for many parties. Enjoy.

E-mail me if you need a hummus recipe.

Answer 10

minestrone soup


1 - 1 1/2 cups dried Cannellini or Great Northern Beans
2 ounces salt pork or pancetta
10 to 12 cups beef or chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup loosely packed parsley, chopped
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 head savoy or curly cabbage, sliced
1 potato, diced
2 zucchini, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 cups chopped Italian styled peeled plum tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese, grated for garnish
1 Soak beans overnight in cold water. Drain beans, rinse, and place them in a large saucepan or stockpot. Add salt pork or pancetta and 6 cups of broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook gently for about 1 hour.

2 Heat oil in a separate large stockpot. Add chopped vegetables (onion, celery, carrot, garlic, parsley) and sauté gently 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Add remaining vegetables and tomatoes. Add remaining 5 cups broth. Simmer for 40 to 50 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

3 Remove salt pork or pancetta from beans. Dice finely. Transfer half of the beans to a food processor or a blender and blend into a paste. Add mashed beans to the vegetables. Add remaining whole beans, broth, and diced pork to vegetables.

4 Simmer 5 minutes longer. Season soup with salt and pepper. Serve with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves 10-12, easily. (This recipe makes a lot of soup!)

Note
Beans will absorb a great deal of liquid while cooking. Add more broth or water to replace lost liquid if needed, or the beans will stick.