First course/entree ideas?

[lurker172602]

I'm starting to think ahead to Christmas and planning our Christmas dinner (evening)

I've got the mains pretty much sorted with ham on the bone, roast pork, a few "different" salads and a potato dish, and the DiL's are looking after dessert, but I'm stuck big time for a first course idea.  Normally I'd go straight to prawns and/or scallops, but two people have seafood allergys and I'd prefer to not make them ill on Christmas Day 

Any stunning, sumptuous yet simple ideas of something I can make?  Something like crispy chilli & zucchini fritters crossed my mind but I can't think how to make them look "fancy" enough.  

[imastawka]

What about some nice old fashioned chicken vol-au-vents

Make them the day before and just pop 'em in the oven.

You can buy different size cases at the supermarket   

edit:  or  put your chilli & zucchini mix in the cases

[raptor_rebooted]

mushroom souffles? 

you can make them the day

before

and if you're thinking more of a

first course - soups can be delish

and easy to make.

rice paper rolls?

[lurker172602]

I was liking your mushroom soufflé idea julia until I remembered one son can't stand mushrooms 

Rice paper rolls could be nice.  Do you have a recipe?

Vol-au-vonts could work too with a yummy filling.

Keep 'em coming folks 

[kopenhagen5]

If this passes with the seafood allergy people, I would do a smoked salmon on vienna buttered with creme cheese.

Leaf of lettuce under the salmon topped with fresh dill n thinly sliced onion rings, capers and coarse cracked pepper.

Garnished on the side with sliced cherry tomatoes n basil leaves.

Or the non seafood option, a small tall spiral of fettucini with pesto, pine nuts in a cream sauce.

Garnished with fresh basil leaves.

[lurker172602]

We learnt how to make rice paper roll "papers" when we went to a cooking school in Vietnam.  It was fun.  Not sure I could do it now without an expert looking over my shoulder 

[lurker172602]

Thanks kopes but, nup, any seafood is out.  I think it's a shell fish allergy and just general phobia about any seafood.

[raptor_rebooted]

impressive but easy.....

can't go wrong with bruschetta 

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

Mmm entrees..I like the sound of the little fritters with a dollop of tzatziki, cradled in a fresh cos crunchy lettuce leaf..and some could have smoked salmon and creme fraiche?

or

some kind of skewers?

or

lamb koftes?

or

blinis?

or

small savoury muffins- like caramelised onion with goats cheese?

or

What about some little chinese soup spoons with a little fresh, crispy salad..

like a combo of shallots, finely shredded cabbage, mint, thai basil, shredded orange + yellow capsicum, crunchy noodles, bean sprouts..some of them could have a prawn or a small slice of beef/ chicken?

[lurker172602]

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@youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit wrote:

What about some little chinese soup spoons with a little fresh, crispy salad..

like a combo of shallots, finely shredded cabbage, mint, thai basil, shredded orange + yellow capsicum, crunchy noodles, bean sprouts..some of them could have a prawn or a small slice of beef/ chicken?

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Mmmmmm, I'm liking the sound of that. Maybe with a drop or two of a lovely sesame dressing?