Thanksgiving appetizers

[Anonymous]

My in-laws are hosting Thanksgiving and asked us to bring appetizers. They live about 30 minutes away, and their kitchen will be completely tied up with dinner prep when we arrive, so I need something I can bring that won't need to be cooked when we arrive. Am I consigned to cheese ball, crackers & olives? Who has a more interesting appetizer suggestion? TIA!

[Anonymous]

I make a blue cheese stuff date wrapped in bacon that would work. Bake at home before you leave then serve at room temperature. You could also do shrimp cocktail and transport in a cooler bag.

[Anonymous]

You could do a spinach/ artichoke dip that you cook at home, wrap well, and should still be hot after 30 minutes, or you can throw in the microwave for 1 minute when you arrive.
But I just do grapes, olives, and cheese. No one needs to eat much before the big dinner.

[Anonymous]

I'd add a veggie tray, easy to assemble ahead of time and it's nice to have something crisp and fresh before turkey dinner.

My family loves deviled eggs as well. There's something nostalgic / retro about them that seems to fit the holiday - and they're delicious.

[Anonymous]

Cranberry Brie Bites
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259545/cranberry-brie-bites/

[Anonymous]

+1 for shrimp cocktail!

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for crowd pleasing and kid friendly:
https://lilluna.com/turkey-veggie-tray/

If you are looking for easy but elegant, I suggest slices of baguette toasted topped with brie and a drizzle of cranberry curd. (toast the baguette slices at home, slice the brie at home, make the cranberry curd at home, but assemble on site).

[Anonymous]

Spinach dip in a bread bowl!

[Anonymous]

Shrimp cocktail is easy make ahead, just need to keep it chilled for the drive.

you could make up a baked brie if you have a crock pot. heat it up. once you take it out of your oven wrap it up put it in your warm crock pot and then transport to the destination that way so it stays warm and gooey

if you don't have a crock pot, then use a small cooler to help keep it warm for the drive.


how about the grape jelly meat balls or bbq smoked sausages

[Anonymous]

Based on experience, what is the time difference between guests arriving and dinner being served? If it is within a hour and a half and your MIL is not super formal, I would just buy several bags of popcorn or Kettle corn and maybe add Chex mix or pretzels - there are many fall add-ins recipes on the internet. Buy a couple of Fall colored plastic bowls. Whatever you bring, make certain you have utensils, plates, whatever you need to serve. There is nothing worse than someone coming into a hot, harried kitchen just needing to toss a salad, slice some tomatoes and where is your cutting board and olive oil? 😡

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Based on experience, what is the time difference between guests arriving and dinner being served? If it is within a hour and a half and your MIL is not super formal, I would just buy several bags of popcorn or Kettle corn and maybe add Chex mix or pretzels - there are many fall add-ins recipes on the internet. Buy a couple of Fall colored plastic bowls. Whatever you bring, make certain you have utensils, plates, whatever you need to serve. There is nothing worse than someone coming into a hot, harried kitchen just needing to toss a salad, slice some tomatoes and where is your cutting board and olive oil? 😡

Popcorn/kettle corn is not an appetizer. It’s a snack and too informal.

[Anonymous]

We like a anti pasta tray like at a nice Italian restaurant — wrap nice prosciutto and capociola around nice aged provolone, add nice olives and some eggplant caponata and sliced bread. You could also add fresh mozzarella and cherry tomato skewers.