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.  

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

shot glasses with chilled gazpacho?

or

small pancakes with peking duck, green onion, cucumber?

or

".                        with a slice of beef and horseradish dollop?

just making gyoza here, will bbl 

[imastawka]

Aw, yum, love gyoza

All this stuff is a little too complicated for an old biddy like me

Will all that stuff fit on a chinese soup spoon?

[serendipityricho]

I would be happy with a nice chilled VB in a stubbie holder..................Richo.

[imastawka]

6 course meal for Richo -  roast lamb and 5 beers

[debra9275]

Hmm I was just trying to remember what were my favourite entrees on the boat... Chicken satay skewers, youcan's mini pancakes with Peking duck, or  arancini balls.

[lurker172602]

No debra! Just NO!  I did arancini balls for Melb Cup and although I will say they were delicious, they took forever to make.  So much mucking about.  It will have to be a long time before I do those again.  *shudder*

I do make some nice blini but I've done that heaps of times so I'm after something different.

Im going back to my chilli vege fritters idea.  I like youcans presentation suggestion.

[imastawka]

They do sound yummo in cos lettuce cups with tzatziki

[kopenhagen5]

I lost youcans address.

Luuvvvv gyoza with dipping sauce.

For something different lurker I also like the sound of lamb kofta with a middle eastern yoghurt sauce and fresh mint leaves.

Can be pre prepared then quickly pan fried.

Or another thought I had, if the weather is hot perhaps avocadoes filled with a vinaigrette salsa salad.

(stawks, 6 course meal, lol)

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

Which boat? I wanna go!! lol

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

mmm gyoza- delish..

lurker- chilli zucchini fritters..and maybe some corn fritters too?? just being cheeky now.

Am going to find the 'whats for dinner?' thread and post a salad dressing (to go with the crunchy salad I suggested below)

and gyoza recipe if anyone wants it..

stawka, would really appreciate your vol-au-vents recipes.. nothing 'old fashioned' about a decent vol-au-vent..

I prefer olds cool to old school