6 Easy Appetizers for Your Holiday Party
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Maple Pecans
Toss pecans with maple syrup and sea salt, and bake in a 400°F oven until slightly darkened and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes. (They will harden as they cool.)
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Marinated Feta
Warm seeds and spices (such as sesame, coriander, and crushed peppercorns) in olive oil. Pour over a block of feta cheese and sprinkle with fresh herbs. Serve with crostini or crackers.
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Cucumber "Crackers"
Dollop cucumber rounds with crème fraîche, and top with smoked salmon.
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Grilled Gruyère Cheese Fingers
Make grilled cheese sandwiches using Gruyère cheese, cut off the crusts, and cut the sandwiches into long rectangles. Sprinkle on chopped parsley.
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Bacon-Wrapped Cheesy Dates
Stuff pitted Medjool dates with small chunks of Parmesan cheese, wrap in a half slice of bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 450°F oven, turning once, until crisp, about 10 minutes.
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Crowd-Pleasing Ham
Think ham is just for dinner? Well think again! Add biscuits and a jar of mustard so your guests can feast on DIY mini sandwiches.
In a small saucepan whisk together 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup pomegranate juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 Tbs. Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper, and 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and reserve.
Heat a bone-in, 7-lb. spiral-sliced ham according to instructions. Thirty minutes before the ham is ready, remove it from the oven and apply a generous amount of the glaze by dabbing it on with a brush. Repeat twice, every 10 minutes. When the ham is finished, apply a final coating of the glaze and serve the remaining glaze on the side. Makes 16 servings.
Recipe by Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione