Bites to Answer the Call of Guests’ Rumbling Stomachs
'The doorbell rings, and they start to stream in. Hungry. Yes, there will be dinner, platters overflowing with the inevitable, and desserts galore.
But not immediately. I’ll need another 30 minutes, maybe a little more, as we wait for the frantic traffic-fouled latecomers.
It’s a challenge a host often faces: how to bridge the gap so that guests, having picked up the scent of roasted poultry and autumn spices as soon as they arrive, do not head for the kitchen and start nipping at the pan of turkey stuffing or sneaking some chunks of roasted root vegetables.
At the same time, you do not want to be trapped fussing with pretty canapés when you may be having a gravy crisis. And, with a waiting list for oven space, forget defrosting pigs in blankets or warming homemade gougères.
The situation calls for something savory, easy and at room temperature that won’t lay waste to appetites. In many households, a copious bowl of shrimp is the default answer. A wooden board with cheeses and crackers, dishes of nuts here and there, or a dip, even guacamole, with chips or vegetables trimmed in advance can be put out with something to drink. Later in the night, they will contribute very little to the final reckoning at the dishwasher.'>>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/dining/thanksgiving-appetizers.html?
