HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Christmas hors d'oeuvres, from the French, meaning "outside the work," can be harder to spell (hors d'oeuvres, hors d'ouevre, hor douvres or hor'dourves) than they are to actually prepare! Most American chefs and hosts will resort to preparing "appetizers" simply because it's easier to say.
The Italians call it antipasto, meaning "before the meal." The Spanish call it tapas; Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures call it meze; and the Russians call it zakuski. No matter what you call it, everyone enjoys delicious finger food before a meal.
During the holiday season, Christmas hors d'oeuvres are great to serve either before a formal Christmas meal or as snack food during a casual cocktail party. Below you'll find a sampling of easy Christmas hors d'oeuvres, fit for any setting.
The Italians call it antipasto, meaning "before the meal." The Spanish call it tapas; Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures call it meze; and the Russians call it zakuski. No matter what you call it, everyone enjoys delicious finger food before a meal.
During the holiday season, Christmas hors d'oeuvres are great to serve either before a formal Christmas meal or as snack food during a casual cocktail party. Below you'll find a sampling of easy Christmas hors d'oeuvres, fit for any setting.
Cinnamon flavored skewers give this Christmas hors d'oeuvre a festive flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 package 6" skewers
- .25 Cup cinnamon oil
- 2 Cup(s) diced fruit (we recommend apples and pears for Christmas)
Steps
- Soak skewers in water for 60 minutes.
- Dry them on a towel.
- Preheat broiler, about 5 minutes.
- Lay out the pre-soaked skewers on a broiler-safe pan. Brush each of the skewers with cinnamon oil.
- Broil fruit skewers for 30 seconds on each side.
Toasted French bread slices topped with red and green ingredients make for a great Christmas hors d’oeuvre.
Ingredients
- 3 Cup(s) water
- 1/2 Lbs fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 Cup(s) grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 Cup minced fresh basil
- 3 green onion, chopped
- 3 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 Teaspoon grated lime peel
- 1/4 Teaspoon salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon pepper
- 12 Slices French baguette, toasted
- 1/2 Cup crumbled blue cheese
Steps
- In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the asparagus; cover and boil for 2-4 minutes.
- Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water to cool it. Drain and pat dry.
- In a bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, basil, onions, lime juice, oil, garlic, lime peel, salt and pepper.
- Using a slotted spoon, spoon asparagus mixture onto bread.
- Top each bread slice with a sprinkle of blue cheese.
This deliciously edible Christmas wreath is made with crescent rolls, cream cheese and sour cream and beautifully garnished with red and green veggies and a green bow made from celery leaves.
Ingredients
- 2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 Cup sour cream
- 1 Teaspoon dill weed
- 1/8 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.5 Cup(s) chopped fresh broccoli florets
- 1 Cup finely chopped celery
- 1/2 Cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
- 2-3 celery leaves (enough to tie a bow)
Steps
- Preheat over to 375 degrees.
- Remove crescent roll dough from packaging, but do not unroll.
- Cut each tube into eight even slices.
- Arrange the slices in an 11 inch circle on an ungreased 14-in. pizza pan.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool for 5 minutes before carefully transferring to a serving platter; cool completely.
- In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, dill and garlic powder until smooth.
- Spread over wreath with a spatula.
- Top the wreath with fresh broccoli florets, celery and red pepper.
- Form a bow garnish with celery leaves.
Anyone can purchase a festive serving dish to serve Christmas hors d'oeuvres but with these easy tips, you can serve your appetizers in style.
- Never place napkins (either paper or cloth) between food and a serving dish. Oil, grease or moisture from the food will seep onto the napkin, which can cause appetizers to look unappetizing.
- Serve fruit kebabs by sticking skewers in a covered, Styrofoam Christmas wreath and placing the wreath on a cake pedestal. The red colors of the fruit and the evergreen wreath will really complement one another.
- Garnish serving dishes with red and green edibles such as sprigs of parsley or mint and halved strawberries, fresh cranberries or red grapes (whole fruits will roll around on the dish and possibly off the plate).
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