Easy Thanksgiving appetizer. Maybe a dip?

[SusanBAnthony]

Any suggestions for some kind of dip or other make-ahead appetizer for Thanksgiving?  

I am open to anything, except no mayonnaise, because that stuff is disgusting.

How many appetizers do you serve, and how far ahead of the main meal?  We have people coming from out of town, and I don't know how much earlier than the meal they will arrive, so I am thinking a relish tray and one dip will be enough.  What do you think?

[wawa]

we usually just go with cheese and crackers, maybe some spiced nuts (super easy) and...relish tray? Maybe? If by relish tray you mean tray full of assorted pickles and olives and stuff and not actual relish.

[redheadbaker]

When I was growing up, we would have the appetizers, and my mom would pour them out two to three hours before the meal.

I'm doing thyme-polenta crostini, baked Brie and stuffed mushrooms.

Spinach-artichoke dip is nice. Pumpkin dip is seasonal, but the one I made was more suited to dessert (it was on the sweeter side).

[SusanBAnthony]

Nov 20, 2013 8:48:04 GMT -5 wawa said:

If by relish tray you mean tray full of assorted pickles and olives and stuff and not actual relish.

Yes.  That is what my mom always called it. 

[wawa]

Nov 20, 2013 9:01:43 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

Nov 20, 2013 8:48:04 GMT -5 wawa said:

If by relish tray you mean tray full of assorted pickles and olives and stuff and not actual relish.

Yes.  That is what my mom always called it. 

got it.  I figured, I just didn't want to assume since I wasn't 100% on the meaning.

[SusanBAnthony]

Nov 20, 2013 8:49:48 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

When I was growing up, we would have the appetizers, and my mom would pour them out two to three hours before the meal.

This is what I would prefer to do, so that I can do heavier stuff (OMG I love baked brie) but 100% of our guests are notoriously late.  So I think something light, that can sit in the fridge until people roll in, would be better.

[StrawberryBlondie]

We're doing a meat & cheese tray, loaded baked potato dip, and some chicken wings.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards

[orval]

Slice kielbasa into bite size pieces. Throw in the crock pot with apricot preserves and a packet of Lipton Onion Soup mix. heat and enjoy! This always disappears. Sorry - it is not a dip.

[darnkatz]

We're doing baked brie with apple compote, but that's not what you're looking for. So, I'll suggest these. Mmmmm.
Bacon-blue cheese dip
Sparkling cranberry brie bites
Spinach artichoke dip
Tyrokafteri (spicy feta cheese spread)

[mbcdefg]

I love this vegetable salsa. It's healthy, easy/cheap to make, and the longer it sits in the fridge the better it tastes: allrecipes.com/recipe/heathers-cilantro-black-bean-and-corn-salsa/

You can serve it with Tostitos Scoops, or slices of bread like bruschetta, or people can just eat it with a fork like a salad. I make it a lot for barbecues and my friends love to put it on top of their burgers as a relish.

[EloiseWeenie]

Growing up we always did oysters Rockefeller, crab dip, cheese ball w/ crackers, nuts, baked brie w/ fruit & crackers.

I'm much lazier than my mom, and there's only 6 of us so I'm just going to do baked brie en croute, and spinach & artichoke dip.

[lishie]

Baked Brie with candied nuts. I use pecans instead of walnuts. make sure you use a rimmed baking sheet, as sometimes the cheese runs.

Ingredients

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, pre-packaged
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup walnuts
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
Crackers, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Defrost puff pastry for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and unfold.

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Saute the walnuts in the butter until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. Add the cinnamon and stir until walnuts are coated well. Place the walnut mixture on top of the Brie and sprinkle the brown sugar over the mixture. Lay the puff pastry out on a flat surface. Place the brie in the center of the pastry. Gather up the edges of the pastry, pressing around the brie and gather at the top. Gently squeeze together the excess dough and tie together with a piece of kitchen twine. Brush the beaten egg over top and side of Brie. Place Brie on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.

Serve with crackers.

[ESF]

I have never understood how so many people can have hot apps on Thanksgiving, use frozen apps, etc. Are two ovens more common than I thought?

We keep it light, since the meal will be ginormous and our TGs are usually small gatherings (5 people). Last year, I did persimmon in proscuitto, and drizzle a bit of olive oil and sherry vinegar over them, and finish off with some cracked black pepper, and some spiced nuts.

This year, I will probably just get some good cheddar, crackers, and slices of persimmon and pear. Maybe some sliced salami too.

[winnied]

I don't go balls out with appetizers because, per Ina Garten's suggestion, I don't want people to get filled up. I'm just putting out two cheeses with crackers before dinner, cut up apples, and that's it.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Cranberry salsa with tortilla chips. Cranberries, sugar, diced jalapeno, salt, a dash of vinegar... cook over medium until the berries burst. Make it way ahead and refrigerate, then serve it at room temp.

[EloiseWeenie]

Nov 20, 2013 10:32:25 GMT -5 ESF said:

I have never understood how so many people can have hot apps on Thanksgiving, use frozen apps, etc. Are two ovens more common than I thought?

My mom has 2 ovens, and a turkey roaster.

I only have 1 oven, but if we were cooking the turkey this year I'd buy a turkey roaster. H always does the turkey, and he reserved one from Honeybaked Ham.