Posts may contain affiliate links. Please see my Privacy Policy for further details.
So the whole notion of ‘appetizers’ cracks me up. It’s a Pre-Meal… meal. It’s like you’re prepping for the real meal to come out. It essentially is generally “a food or drink that stimulates the appetite and is usually served before a meal”. See a pre-meal! Well with Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, it seems more and more folks serve appetizers before the big meal. Now this is something new to me as my family never did this. Then again we didn’t have the extra money for stuff like appetizers plus we wanted to save our appetites for the real meal. LOL
Now since they are a pre-meal, let’s call them by their real name Hors d’oeuvres. Hor d’oeuvres are the first course. If there is an extended period between when guests arrive and when the meal is eaten (for example during a cocktail hour), these might also serve the purpose of sustaining guests during the wait, in the same way that apéritifs are served as a drink before meals. Hors d’oeuvre are sometimes served with no meal afterward. This is the case with many reception and cocktail party events. Hors d’oeuvre may be served at the dinner table as a part of the meal, or they may be served before seating. Hors d’oeuvre prior to a meal are either rotated by waiters or passed. Stationary hors d’oeuvre served at the table may be referred to as “table hors d’oeuvre”. Passed hors d’oeuvre may be referred to as “butler-style” or “butlered” hors d’oeuvre.
For those of you that are big on the appetizers pre turkey, here’s a list of some awesome Pre-Meal snacks to kick your real meal off!
Roasted Grape Crostini with Ricotta, Prosciutto and Honey Drizzle
Tuscan Herbed Bread Dipping Oil
Cheesy Meatball Stuffed Pizza Puffs
Crispy Baked Oven-Fried Honey BBQ Wings
Caramelized Sweet Onion Jarlsberg Spread
Cheesy Zucchini Crab Puffy Cakes
Sriracha Spiced Bacon – Man Candy II
Cheesy Jarlsberg Zucchini Fritters
Coming from Italy, appetizers are a big deal to me. “Antipasto” is definitely an important feature in any three-course meal. Sure we don’t do Thanksgiving so I can imagine how the addition of an extra pre-meal to the long list of features on a Thanksgiving menu can just come through as excess food 😀 But I still very much enjoyed this list of appetizer ideas!
What a tremendous roundup of Thanksgiving appetizer recipes! I am particularly eyeing that Tuscan Herbed Bread Dipping Oil – YUM!
Thank you so much Jenni!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
If only Thanksgiving lasted a bit longer! Because trying every single recipe in this collection is a must. One thing I know for sure is that I will need to make at least a few recipes from here before the end of November – they are too comforting and delicious!
Yeah but remember tis the season so it’s ok if you make these in December…or July! Lol
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Glad I found your blog as there are several recipes I would love to try! the first one is the fudgy dark chcolate skillet brownie.
As a food manufacturer of mainly appetizers and canapes I think serving appetizers before the main course is brilliant! That way people are not so famished when they site down to dinner that they actually enjoy the meal. I have found that when we serve something like a “pre-meal” our family and friends actually eat less and talk more during the main course. And we love to sit around the table talking and catching up with one another’s lives.
Thanks for sharing…
Warmly,
Rosana Santos Calambichis, President
BIGChefOnline.com
Hi Rosana and Happy early Thanksgiving to you and your family!
As I said above it wasn’t until I met my husband and my first holiday meal with them that we had appetizers before the big meal. Sure I’ve had appetizers at other events, dinners and such but never for a ‘big meal’ like Thanksgiving. And you’re right – it allows you to have more conversation and quality time with your friends and family at the table than just sitting there inhaling due to being famished. They tend to enjoy the meal more as you eat slower and savor the foods (as well as the company).
Mmmm that dark chocolate skillet brownie is so yummy! I’ll make it at times when I want a nice romantic dinner with a shared dessert.
Best Kitchen Wishes!