No-Cook Thanksgiving Day Appetizers
Delicious, Easy First Course Snacks Before Turkey Feast
Sep 30, 2009
Make delicious and easy first course snacks for the holiday guests this November without cooking. Preparing the Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings will be complicated and time consuming enough. Try putting together some no-cook appetizers such as cold fruit, vegetable, or cheese kabobs, hummus dip and a variety of crunchy sides, marinated vegetables, or easy pinwheels. Some festive serving utensils, plates, and napkins will complete the beautiful Thanksgiving Day appetizer table.
Cold Fruit, Vegetable, or Cheese Kabobs
Cold fruit, vegetable, or cheese and pepperoni kabobs make great no-cook appetizers for Thanksgiving Day. They are easy to put together and are a pleasing first course idea. Try using melons, grapes, strawberries, and apple bits for a refreshing cold first course fruit snack. For something savory, try making a kabob from fresh mozzarella cheese balls, cherry tomatoes, and spicy smoked sausage. For a vegetable lover's kabob, try marinated mushrooms, red peppers, and cucumbers.
Endive and Hummus Dip
Store bought hummus dip (chick pea, tahini) goes great on the turkey day hors d'oeuvre table with pita bread, crackers, and celery. For a more elegant first course offering, serve the hummus with endive leaves. Place the hummus in a decorative glass bowl on a large round plate and surround it with endive leaves to make it look like a huge sunflower.
Marinated Vegetables
A presentation of colorful marinated vegetables can really spruce up the first course of a Thanksgiving Day feast. Try offering mushrooms, a variety of olives and pickles, and other marinated vegetables such as cauliflower, carrots, and hot peppers. Sprinkle the plate with different colored toothpicks and make sure to provide festive napkins and plates as well.
Pinwheels With Lavash or Tortilla Bread
Roll-ups (pinwheels) are so easy to put together and can be a nice addition to a collection of make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes. Try these combinations with either lavash or tortilla bread for delicious pinwheel Thanksgiving Day appetizers:
- Cream cheese, ham, and a sweet pickle
- Cream cheese, turkey, and fresh basil leaves
- Cream cheese, turkey, and arugula leaves
- Swiss cheese, ham, spicy or sweet honey mustard
- Roast beef, cheddar cheese spread, and chopped pearl onions
Once the ingredients are layered on the bread, they can be rolled up, chilled in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight, and sliced into ½-inch pinwheels before serving.
Don’t fuss with a complicated first course that requires cooking this Thanksgiving when a few easy, no-cook Thanksgiving Day appetizers can be a delicious part of the turkey day plan. Add color to the appetizer table with a selection of marinated vegetables and fruit kabobs. Spice up the cold appetizers with endive and arugula. Make some pinwheels ahead of time and focus on the turkey feast while enjoying family and guests this November holiday.
Keep the kids busy with some easy, crafty Thanksgiving Gifts Kids Can Make.
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