The holidays tend to sneak up on you. Don’t let this one pass without channeling your festive cheer into throwing a great holiday party.
If the thought of hosting a gathering feels overwhelming, just assemble these delicious and easily prepared little appetizers for your guests to nibble on as they soak up the winter spirit. Ontario attorney Karen McCleave, an avid cook and frequent holiday host, has a few go-to recipes for fun, delicious, and most importantly, easy holiday appys.
Caprese Skewers: Simple and Fresh
These are easy to make, and it can be creative fun to thread different kinds of cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls onto skewers, with an occasional basil leaf and a drizzle of balsamic glaze to add to the flavour. They’re colourful and delicious and can be prepared ahead in a few minutes.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip: The Crowd Pleaser
Yummy. Gooey. A healthy base of spinach and artichokes covered in layers of unhealthy fried cream cheese and sour cream with shredded cheese. Throw those together in a baking dish and let it bake til it bubbles. An easy dish to prepare the night before.
The Charcuterie Board: The Effortless Assortment
Any nice-looking chopping block can be covered in a mix of cheeses, cured meats, choice crackers, some figs or other fruits and nuts. Make sure one of the cheeses is a triple-crème Brie and another is a blue Stilton. Arrange it artfully, adding chutney, grainy mustard and honey for a sweet or savory complement.
Stuffed Dates: Sweet and Savory
These up your fanciness quotient while delivering delicious blasts of flavour when the dates are stuffed with goat or cream cheese, wrapped in prosciutto or bacon and baked until crispy. They always surprise you and are usually the first to go.
Holiday-Themed Crostini: The Festive Factor
Dressed-up baguette slices (purchased or made in the oven) are usually the second! They’re bite-sized, filling, and combine colourful and delightful flavours. Karen recommends a mixture, using smoked salmon with capers, minced red onion and chopped dill over a smear of spreadable cream cheese; brie with some pesto, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and a sprinkle of pine nuts; and mascarpone, prosciutto and arugula. She suggests preparing the toppings ahead and then assembling them just before serving to keep the base crisp.
Karen McCleave believes that a mix of these easy holiday appys will help your parties seize that holiday spirit while it lasts while keeping you in conversation and not in the kitchen. Cheers to the season of effortless entertaining!
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