Bruschetta is a grilled toast topped with salad, meats or cheeses.
Hosting a Thanksgiving meal can be hectic, and with all of the attention placed on the night's dinner it is easy to overlook the need for appetizers. As most people don't eat lunch on Thanksgiving Day, it is important to provide appetizers for your guests so they aren't starving by the time the turkey comes out. There are many sophisticated, yet quick appetizers that can be made a day ahead and will keep your guests happy until dinner.
Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an Italian-style open-faced sandwich. Slices of French bread are grilled and drizzled with olive oil and garlic after which a topping of some sort is piled on top. Classic bruschetta in the U.S. has a tomato and onions, while other varieties include prosciutto and figs, honey and brie, corn and bean salad, salmon and cream cheese and any of tapinade, salad or sandwich filling.
Hot Dips
Dips are always a quick and easy go-to appetizer. Warm dips such as hot spinach, artichoke or bean dip can be served as well as cooler dips such as guacamole and crab dip. Provide plenty of items to dip into the spreads including crusty breads, tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers and fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery.
Puff Pastry
Frozen puff pastry is a handy stock item as it can be thawed and transformed into an amazing appetizer with very little work. Puff pastry cups are round circles of puff pastry dough that come already cut in the freezer pack. Simply place the dough on a baking tray and bake. The circles back into small pastry cups that can then be filled with a savory or sweet salad or spread. Puff pastry sheets can be rolled into croissants or sprinkled with cheese and spices and twisted into "cheese straws."
Spiced Nuts
Roasted nuts are a classic holiday appetizer. They are filling and allow for the "grabbing" motion associated with snacking. Home roasting nuts is quick and simple and requires only a few spices such as cinnamon, paprika, chili powder, ginger, honey or any other flavor available and a variety of nuts including cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts. Shelled pistachios and honey-roasted peanuts may be set out in addition to spiced nuts to give guests choices.
Baked Brie
Baked brie is an impressive cold-weather favorite that will distract your guests from the dinner smells in the kitchen. An entire wheel of brie is placed on a stretched out piece of puff pastry dough. Honey, figs, cherries, crushed nuts, cranberries or any other type of fruit or berry is then placed on top of the cheese. The pastry dough is folded over the top of the cheese and pinched tight. The packaged brie is then baked until golden. Serve with breads, crackers and fruits.
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