Thanksgiving & Christmas appetizer ideas?

[jenmovdob]

I'm going to my inlaws for Thanksgiving dinner. The oven and stove top will both be full, so I need an appetizer idea that can be served cold. We always bring cheese and crackers, but we wanted to be different this year. Any ideas?

[doublehsmom]

I'm glad that you asked that as I was wondering what to make for mine as well!

[Illinoismom]

http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps38181_CW1191757D18.jpg

 

I make this every year

 

 

12 ServingsPrep: 45 min. + chilling

Ingredients

2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese

6 ounces deli smoked turkey, finely chopped

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

 

DECORATIONS:

3 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons milk

Brown, orange and yellow paste food coloring

6 large oval crackers

1 large sweet red pepper

1 small yellow summer squash

1 cup pecan halves

Assorted crackers

Directions

In a small bowl, beat the first six ingredients until combined. Shape into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

In another small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Divide among four small bowls. With food coloring, tint one bowl brown, one dark orange and one light orange (using yellow and orange); leave one bowl plain.

Transfer each mixture to a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of each bag.

For turkey tail feathers, decorate the top halves of large oval crackers with tinted cream cheese.

Using the red pepper, form the turkey head, neck and wattle. For beak, cut a small triangle from summer squash; attach with cream cheese. Add eyes, using brown and plain cream cheese. Insert pecan halves and decorated crackers into cheese ball. Serve with assorted crackers. Yield: 1 cheese ball (3 cups).

 

Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested with Townhouse Oval Bistro crackers.

[Buckeye Shopper]

We like spinach dip, in a pumpernickel bread bowl.

 

http://www.letsmakeknorr.com/Recipes/6200/1/Knorr-Spinach-Dip.aspx

[Kibit13]

IllinoisMom, your cheesy turkey is too cute!

 

Sometimes as a snack I will spread cream cheese on to Triscuit type crackers and then put dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, almonds and other seeds or nuts on them. They are sweet and salty, but not too filling.

[AndreaInNC]

that cheese turkey is too cute!

 

My kids cry for cheese dip every year - I make it in the crockpot. It's the velveeta & rotelle tomatoe recipe - I also add cooked sausage to mine.

 

We love taking the leftovers and make breakfast burritos the next morning. yummy!

[dealluvr]

7 layer dip i have never made it but it looks good

chex mix different chex cereal and different stuff make one batch sweet and one batch spicy

get a decorative jar and fill it with different nuts,pretzels and dried fruit

[Angelseyes28]

that cheese turkey is too cute!

 

My kids cry for cheese dip every year - I make it in the crockpot. It's the velveeta & rotelle tomatoe recipe - I also add cooked sausage to mine.

 

 

Have you ever tried sausage dip with cream cheese instead of velveeta? Oh my gosh it's sooooooo good!!!

[AndreaInNC]

the 7 layer dip is a hit at our house too. Forgot about that one! Easy peasy to make as well. And you can make it a day or two ahead of time as well.

[Angelseyes28]

How about a veggie and dip tray?

[dealluvr]

little skewers of cut up sausage,bread and cheese

 

i always thought this would be cool get a small pumpkin and core it out as best you can and put a really good dip in it and serve with different things to dip in it.if it gets too messy just throw the whole thing out no dish to wash!!

[Princess7915]

OMG we have the sausage cream cheese dip too and we eat WAY WAY more of it than what should be considered healthy! It is sooo fab and so easy too. We like it with those Tostitos scoops chips.

[Angelseyes28]

OMG we have the sausage cream cheese dip too and we eat WAY WAY more of it than what should be considered healthy! It is sooo fab and so easy too. We like it with those Tostitos scoops chips.

LOL!!! I'm addicted to that stuff.......and healthy smealthy, it's the holidays! I love Frito scoop cornchips with mine:)

[dealluvr]

thanks i never made the sausage dip but this year i will thanks

[AndreaInNC]

Have you ever tried sausage dip with cream cheese instead of velveeta? Oh my gosh it's sooooooo good!!!

can you post a recipe? It sounds different .. may have to try that one!

[Angelseyes28]

can you post a recipe? It sounds different .. may have to try that one!

Oh it's super easy. This is for a single batch but you can double, triple etc depending on how many people you have.

 

1 lb sausage

2 bricks of cream cheese(I think those are 8 oz)

1 can rotel tomatoes

 

Brown and drain the sausage just like you would do with hamburger meat.

Add the cream cheese and rotel......I normally do this in a pot or crockpot

Simmer over low heat stirring occasionally until the cream cheese is melted and everything is evenly combined.

 

This will make a thick dip.....not runny like reg velveeta/rotel dip.

[AndreaInNC]

yum - I will have to try this one! Thanks for posting it!

[Angelseyes28]

yum - I will have to try this one! Thanks for posting it!

You're welcome:) Let me know what you think about it after you've tried it!

[mildmom]

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/fruit-gobbler-688370/ I made this "appetizer turkey" last year- it was very cute, everyone loved it. I can't access my picture, so this will do.

 

As an alternative, you could just take bamboo skewers and place grapes, cheese, fruits onto them. They are quick and easy to grab and put on a plate - no grapes rolling off! The kids find them more fun to eat than just fruit. Add in some mini-marshmallows or marchino cherries for fun/color.

 

What about something like guacamole? It is sort of 'non-thanksgiving' but everyone likes it. It won't spoil their taste for dinner and it is kind of healthy.

[Rockfordmom]

http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps38181_CW1191757D18.jpg

 

I make this every year

 

Paula when I saw the thread I knew that you would have some great contributions!

[bugsette]

oh my that turkey is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute

[bugsette]

ok.... nothing like the turkey posted by Illinoismom..... but here goes

 

 

Celery sticks filled with cream cheese and cut up green olives with the red things in the middle.... sorry it's been a long day

[snakeswiff]

we always have Ham rolls.... thinly sliced ham with cream cheese thinly spread on the ham and an asparagus spear in the middle...roll up and cut into bite size pieces. Can sound kinda nasty but delish!!!

[Buckeye Shopper]

we always have Ham rolls.... thinly sliced ham with cream cheese thinly spread on the ham and an asparagus spear in the middle...roll up and cut into bite size pieces. Can sound kinda nasty but delish!!!

We do these with dried beef instead of ham, and instead of asparagus we use chives. They're really good.

[snakeswiff]

We do these with dried beef instead of ham, and instead of asparagus we use chives. They're really good.

hmm will have to try that one.....we did ones with green onion instead of asparagus too....those were really yummy!

[jdrd90]

We make Philly-dillies. A dill pickle spear, spread cream cheese across it, wrap it in ham. Slice it into bite size pieces and hold it together with a toothpick. Yummy!

[AndreaInNC]

And we do kinda of the same thing - we do the Buddig shaved beef, take some cream cheese and add some horseradish - normally about 2 Tbls to an 8oz block. Smear the cream cheese mixture onto the piece of beef, then roll it up. Yummy. My mom called them beef logs.

 

So when should we be there? lol

[fingerlakesmom]

crab dip

 

package of veggie soup mix

1 package cream cheese soft

1 8 oz package of carb

lemon juice and garlic to flavor if you like

[Iliveforblckfri]

crab dip

 

package of veggie soup mix

1 package cream cheese soft

1 8 oz package of carb

lemon juice and garlic to flavor if you like

Can you make this with the fake crab?

[fingerlakesmom]

Can you make this with the fake crab?

yes get the flake if you can mixes better

 

we ahev also amde it with canned shrimp

 

you can use lime juice if you prefere and it can be heated we like it cold or room temp better