Darina Allen: Try these recipes for stress-free starters for your Christmas feast

This week I’m mulling over possible starters for the Christmas feast - something light, lovely, tantalisingly fresh and easy to serve.

Gravlax with Cucumber Ribbon Salad and Mustard and Dill Mayonnaise

As I write, we’ve just had the first really hard frost of the year. 

The gardens look absolutely magical this morning, but I’ve been anxiously watching the red berries on the holly trees; hoping against hope that the hungry birds won’t polish off all the berries before I get a chance to pick sprigs to decorate the mantelpiece, or to pop behind pictures on the walls.