When choosing a Thanksgiving appetizer, consider guests’ dietary restrictions, the time it takes to prepare, and the cost. Kids can help with simple recipes like spinach dip. Compare options to ensure variety and balance. Calculate ingredient costs to stay within budget.
Choosing a Thanksgiving appetizer is all about finding easy-to-prepare foods that please guests. The most important step is to determine if any guests have dietary restrictions. If the kids want to help with the preparation, choose a recipe that’s simple enough to put together. The amount of time each recipe takes to make is also a factor. Before settling on one appetizer, compare it to the others that will be served. Calculate the cost of ingredients to make sure the final price is within budget.
Guests’ dietary restrictions are the single most important factor in choosing a Thanksgiving appetizer. For example, a guest might be vegetarian or vegan, or have a severe nut or shellfish allergy, so it’s best to prepare an appetizer that all guests are able to eat. Attach a note indicating the ingredients in the dish to avoid problems.
Many kids are eager to get into the kitchen and prepare a dish, so choose a Thanksgiving appetizer recipe that a child can easily prepare. Some kid-friendly recipes include spinach dip, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and a tomato, basil, and mozzarella dish. Your child will probably need supervision, but the recipes are basic enough to complete quickly.
How long each Thanksgiving appetizer takes to make is also a factor. Those who won’t have time to throw something together during the day should consider recipes that can be made a day or two ahead, such as cheese sticks, cranberry sauce, or hummus. Some recipes that don’t take much time but need to be made the same day include glazed cocktail meatballs, bruschetta with French toast, and stuffed celery sticks.
Before you settle on one Thanksgiving appetizer, compare it to others that are already about to be there. Having a good variety is essential, so out of five appetizers, there shouldn’t be four sauces, three cheese recipes, or only meat options. There should be a balance between the different types, for example half of the starters include meat and the other half don’t.
Price will also be a big factor. While most appetizers are inexpensive, some can cost a little more to make than others. Crab bites, caviar with blinis, and baked oysters will be more expensive to make than deviled eggs, cheese balls, or stuffed mushrooms. Calculate the price of each ingredient for each recipe to find an option that is within budget.
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