Did I ever tell you about that time I undercooked our Thanksgiving turkey? I mean seriously undercooked it? Like, made-dinner-two-hours-late undercooked? Well, I did, and my friends still don’t let me forget it.
The good thing is I had plenty of drinks and nibbles on hand. And nothing puts a group of hangry guests in a good mood better than booze and small bites.
Besides saving my butt, pre-dinner drinks and nibbles are a lovely way of extending Thanksgiving. Let’s face it: People expect (demand?) certain dishes on the Thanksgiving table: mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green-bean casserole, stuffing, icebox rolls, gravy, and cranberry sauce of some sort.
With hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, you have a lot more leeway. Want to express your creativity? Go for it! Want to serve a signature drink? Please do!
Without the deeply-rooted expectations of classic Turkey Day fare, you can serve something out of left field that just might become next year’s tradition.
Blue Cheese Balls
When you have a special occasion with your family, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, you usually have to rush to finish all the side dishes and desserts. To be able to have some appetizers that can be made in advance and are ready to serve whenever you want is the thing that’s most wanted by every hostess. This blue cheese balls recipe is perfect for those occasions. They’re not only tasty and original, but you can make them the day before and leave them in the fridge while you prepare everything else.
cinto f.
Cranberry Margarita
Barefoot Contessa Rosemary Cashews
These cashews are easy and addictive! Loved them and so did my guests.
virginia
Prosciutto-Cheese Gougères
Apple Pie Moonshine
Baked Feta and Figs
With a hands-on time of 5 minutes, this incredibly light yet decadent baked feta and figs dish comes together in no time and is immensely delicious. I subbed out the figs for fresh blackberries but cannot wait to try this again when figs are in season. Came out of the oven and the berries were bubbling away in their gorgeous purple juices yet retained their berry shape. The feta was slightly puffed and lighter than air. So, so creamy!
anthony t.
Spiced Cider
FAQs
Given that you’ve got a big meal planned, these are just intended to be a little nibble to enjoy before the main event. Plan for enough that each person can have 3 or 4 bites of food. For most gatherings, this will mean offering 2 or 3 hors d’oeuvres.
If you’re offering a signature cocktail to your guests, it’s a good idea to have a non-alcoholic version available. Spiced apple cider can be made in large batches and offered with or without alcohol, or if you’re serving a champagne cocktail, offer sparkling juice as well.
There are many quick and easy snacks and nibbles that can be made ahead of time and served cold or at room temperature. A bowl of spiced roasted nuts, dill dip with potato chips and onion dip, crispy cheese straws, or pimento cheese are all great choices.
We know you’ve worked incredibly hard to organize and cook the most anticipated meal of the year. The above cocktails and hors d’oeuvres recipes should help to keep your hungry guests satisfied and out of your kitchen during the final few moments of reheating sides and carving your turkey.
More often than not, things don’t go according to plan, and that’s ok. If you don’t have the time, oven space, or fridge space to whip up a signature drink or make homemade hors d’oeuvres, just set out some chips and dip, or fancy up a bag of microwave popcorn with spices.
