Interesting starters!

[Hails]

I'm having a small dinner party soon, although it's going to be quite informal I would also like to come across as a bit of a wiz in the kitchen. (I can cook!) Any ideas for nice starters? I'm a vegetarian. The last couple of times these guests came I made stilton mushrooms and carrot and corriander soup. This time I am thinking of making a mushroom and pepper stroganoff as a main course - I'm not yet sure of the dessert. Any ideas for an impressive, easy starter? Thank you.

[coggles]

Cut some slices of (pref) good quality white bread into circles, lightly butter both sides then shape over upturned ramekin dishes or similar. Place on a baking tray and bake in a medium oven until golden. You can fill these with one or several different things: chopped baby plum tomatoes, basil, olive oil & white wine vinegar or a cheese and chive thickened sauce or whatever!

[coggles]

P.S. If you do end up using cheese in the starter and main course, a lemon and lime sorbet (or light lemon & lime cheesecake) would be good to clean the pallete.

[brawburd]

A very simple, tasty and relatively unusual dinner party nibble is Nigella's Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts: http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/N/nigella/
bites11.shtml

[incitatus]

Try doing tempura veg: simply fry things like chilli peppers, baby corn baby courgette etc in a light water based batter, then serve with the dips of your choice: savoury mint jelly is a good one, or aioli or anchoiade. Its very simple, but done well and served quickly is unbeatable fingerfood

[woofgang]

This isn't an answer to your question, but I hve just discovered pumpkin oil (sold by Merchant gourmet, both waitrose and tesco have got it) Its a very interesting dark green colour and way tastier for a bread dip than olive oil. I have tried it drizzled on salad and on the bottle, it suggests pouring it over icecream! If your friends haven't found it yet, it might uphold your foodie reputation.

[FTVS]

i did a GREAT starter recently if you like roquefort cheese anyway and it was dead easy. There doesn't seem to be a URL but if you go to Sainsburys.co.uk. food and drink section, recipe search it's called Roquefort salad with pecan nuts. YUM