When I think of Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind (besides family) is the food. My family’s holiday table is like our version of the red carpet (or the red table runner) where show-stopping dishes and closely guarded heirloom recipes make their annual debut.
However, over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate the simpler side of Thanksgiving. Especially buying frozen appetizers from the grocery store. That shift started back in college, when I spent the holiday on campus as a resident assistant with other students who didn’t go home for the holiday.
Walmart was our closest grocery store, so frozen appetizers became our go-to feast. Even years later, I still love keeping that spirit alive. These days, I bring back these frozen favorites from way back then at Thanksgiving. They might come from the freezer at Walmart, but with a little heat from the oven, they deserve a seat at the table, too.
Jalapeño peppers and cream cheese are an iconic duo that need no further introduction—an easy crowd favorite, especially if you have a younger crew. They save me from having to do all the messy work of preparing the peppers, filling them with the cream cheese, which always ends up everywhere, dredging, and frying.
The best part? They can be prepared in a variety of ways: baked in the oven, deep-fried, or air-fried. I love frying them to bring out that unmatched crunchy texture. Since Thanksgiving Day’s oven schedule can be a bit hectic, having these alternative cooking options is much appreciated.
Read More: 6 Times When You Should Use an Air Fryer (Instead of Your Oven)
If there’s a holiday I associate with potato skins, it’s Thanksgiving. They are simple, familiar, and rustic. Since these cheese and bacon-stuffed potato skins are already cooked to perfection, there is no guessing or stressing. Just heat and start watching them fly off the serving plate.
These batter-wrapped, crunchy, and juicy chicken franks will have you coming back for more. They’re light and small, which makes them the perfect finger food.
I like serving these mini corn dogs with a variety of condiments like ketchup, mustard, sriracha mayo, or buffalo ranch. One year, I made a mysterious sauce and had my family and friends guess all the sauces that went in it. I’m still not telling.
These can be prepared in the oven, microwave, or air fryer. Knowing me, I’ll go with the microwave since it only takes about a minute to get them piping hot. To make it more fun, add some colorful picks—a simple presentation that makes these golden ellipses look fancier.
My mother always made sure to have a few appetizers that remind us of our culture, so it is no surprise that I add Ajinomoto Chicken Gyoza to my Thanksgiving shopping list.
Rather than fighting for a spot in the oven, or worse, negotiating the oven temperature, these chicken gyoza can be pan-fried. They’ll be ready in just 10 minutes. For the best result, I recommend following the package instructions and cooking them at medium-high heat, just enough to get some color at the base and fast enough to cook the dumplings through.
These are my late granny’s favorite since they reminded her of her home, even as she smiled politely and avoided the American classics.
Thanksgiving dinner can sometimes feel like a grown-up’s party, especially with all the emphasis on tradition, but don’t forget about the kids.
Even though I don’t have kids, I’m the oldest cousin, so I’ve spent plenty of holidays playing with my younger cousins. Now that some of them have kids of their own, our family gatherings have become a mix of all ages. One thing that every kid loves and can’t stop talking about is pizza, so why not make these mini ones and serve them as an appetizer?
They cook in minutes and come out looking melty. My favorite part is that you can place them directly on the oven rack—no baking sheet or parchment paper needed. It’s that easy to keep the kids happy.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes
Dining and Cooking