Thanksgiving dinner begins long before the turkey meets the table. The first impressions come from the appetizers, those small, friendly promises that something wonderful is about to happen. In the spirit of keeping things quick, easy, classic, and a touch playful, here are starters that set the mood, satisfy the grazers, offer a bit of balance to turkey-only dining, and won’t overwhelm you or the feast to come.

Avocado Boats
A modern nod to guacamole, but cleaner and faster. Slice ripe avocados in half, remove the pits, and fill each half with a spoonful of pico de gallo or diced tomato, onion, lime, and cilantro. They stay bright, fresh, healthy, and finger-friendly. Think of them as edible bowls of Boulder sunshine. The halves can be quartered. The pit can be removed by using a large knife like a cleaver and “cleaving” the pit just hard enough to make it more. It then comes out with the knife being drawn back. Fingers are not universally accepted as appetizers. 

Veggie Dippers and Yogurt Herb Dip
Thanksgiving can be heavy. A platter of fresh vegetables gives both color and crunch. Carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and sliced peppers circle around a simple dip of Greek yogurt, lemon, dill, salt, and pepper. It’s refreshing and light, reminding everyone that healthy and delicious can coexist on Thanksgiving Day. It also covers the salad/greens part of the main course plate. Peas for the mashed potatoes is still optional!

Mini Ham Biscuit Bites
Turkey may be the headliner, but a whisper of ham keeps everyone balanced. Bake or buy small biscuits, slice them open, and slip in a thin slice of ham with a dot of Dijon or honey mustard. These are tiny homages to a baked ham dinner without committing to the whole hog. Two bites, big smiles.

Skip The Whole Roast Ham.

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds
Light, elegant, and beautifully simple. Slice cucumbers into rounds, add a small ribbon of smoked salmon, a dab of cream cheese or Boursin, and a sprig of dill. These disappear quickly and add a refreshing coolness to the lineup.

Stuffed Mushrooms
A classic. Fill button mushrooms with a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan, or for more protein, add a touch of chopped ham or turkey sausage. Ten minutes in the oven and you have savory little flavor bombs with almost no effort.

Brie With Cranberry Relish
Warm a small wheel of brie in the oven until it’s just soft. Spoon homemade or store-bought cranberry relish over the top. Serve with thin slices of baguette. It’s Thanksgiving in a single bite, creamy and bright, and it almost never survives the first wave of guests.

Outside-the-Box Bonus: Roasted Sweet Potato Coins
Slice sweet potatoes into coins, roast lightly with olive oil and salt, then top with a small swirl of goat cheese and a toasted pecan. They feel festive, they look playful, and they stay on the healthy side of things. They also tie the appetizers to the meal in a subtle, seasonal way.

The Boulder Bird Who Was Not To Be Pardoned.

THEN: 

The Perfect Pairing Wine
Champagne. Always champagne. It pairs with salty foods, creamy foods, crunchy foods, fatty foods, lean foods, vegetables, and turkey. Its bubbles reset your palate between bites, it brightens the richness of a Thanksgiving table, and it adds celebration to every nibble. Blanc de blancs if you want the extra crispness. A good cava or American sparkling wine works just as well.

Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint, and these appetizers set the tone without stealing the show. Make them fast, serve them with joy, pour the bubbles, and enjoy the holiday excursion!

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Lenny Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and widely syndicated blogger and author.
• Most recently published by Amazon, his first book, "Lensworth"a book of his prize-winning photos.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including starring in episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com