Thanksgiving Appetizers

Thanksgiving is a time where families and friends gather around the table for a feast fit for a king and large enough for a small army. Some of us, like me, usually skip breakfast in order to tackle this meal of epic proportions. So, instead of nibbling on the work of art in progress while working on it or while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games, what can we make to munch on that won't fill us up like a balloon?

I like to think of the Italian appetizing art of antipasto, which means "before the meal." Antipastos are a sampling dish of what Americans like to call appetizers. When assembling an antipasto, you can be as creative as you want. Meats, cheeses, olives, pickles, and veggies are all acceptable elements for antipasto. You can get meat, cheese, and cracker party trays at your local deli, like the delis at Wal-Mart, and add things, even if you'd like.

I think a nice version of an antipasto tray would be something like this: mini bagles with cream cheese and lox, whole wheat crackers, thin slices of roast beef and turkey, cut pieces of cheddar and provolone cheese (or maybe cheese cubes on sticks,) marinated artichoke hearts, a few different types of olives (stuffed, pitted, and ripe,) little gherkin pickles, fresh mini balls of mozzarella cheese mixed with cherry or grape tomatoes and a balsamic vinegarette, and perhaps some broccoli florets and baby carrots with some ranch dressing or hummus.

There are several good things about preparing an antipasto tray for a Thanksgiving appetizer. For one, the most common things found on these trays, are healthy, so you're not on a calorie binge before the big meal. Secondly, you can prepare these trays the night before Thanksgiving. Also, if you are too busy with meal preparations, or if you have restless children on their holiday break, looking for something to do, this is something creative and fun for them to do. Lastly, if you have a small family or light eaters before the big meal, and not all of the tray is consumed, you can just pop it in the fridge and snack on it later.

Antipasto trays make perfect appetizers for those hungry hours before Thanksgiving dinner!