Holiday Appetizers and Entertaining Tips With Applegate

Entertaining friends and family for the holidays provides the perfect opportunity for adding new pizzazz to your holiday appetizer selection. Applegate is on hand to help you reach new heights of festive flavor. Imagine a spread filled with premium sliced meats that are organic, non-GMO and entirely delicious. With Applegate’s prime deli-style meats on your ingredients list, you’ll have incredible additions to the table that your friends and family are destined to savor.  

3 Holiday Entertaining Tips  

Use A Mix of Familiar and Unique Flavors  

Rather than relying on your usual creations, spruce up your array of holiday appetizers by presenting something new alongside classic selections. By incorporating new recipes with traditional selections, you can extend the treasury of family creations. Start with familiar flavors like Applegate’s enticing deli selections including genoa salami, soppressata, prosciutto and pepperoni. Incorporating these premium slices into croissant sandwiches, elegant salads and two-bite bakes elevates your holiday appetizers to the realm of gourmet magic. It’s a creative and personal way to make your special moments even better.  

Give Your Table Visual Flair  

The joy of a well-set table brings both host and guest into the world of the holidays with just a glance. Presentation is key in setting the tone for your event, letting you express everything from tasteful elegance to playful whimsy. Decide on a motif that suits the spirit of your party, then plan your menu of holiday appetizers and table decor to maximize the creative possibilities using colors, patterns and three-dimensional elements that match the theme.  

Depending on how large your gathering is, you can opt for one large tablescape to make a grand statement, incorporating your food and decor into an elegant display. If you’re planning a more intimate affair, creating smaller stations to separate your holiday appetizers into savory and sweet selections will give guests a chance to circulate. Even with limited space for displaying your best holiday appetizers, you can easily arrange small countertop platters surrounded by fresh holiday greenery and eye-catching sparkles.  

Plan A Menu For A Varied Crowd  

Anticipating the tastes of your guests can help guide you when choosing dishes for your holiday appetizers, especially with a mix of ages on the guest list. Small bites and handheld dishes make great possibilities for little hands that may not be ready for a sit-down dinner. A meal made entirely of holiday appetizers will help give your event a cocktail party feel for the adults while offering kid-sized snacks for the younger set.  

The most exciting aspect of preparing holiday appetizers is the variety of options available to fill your platters. Including a selection of sophisticated holiday appetizers with more whimsical treats scattered throughout means providing selections that everyone will be excited to sink their teeth into. Fresh, delicious ingredients like Applegate’s premium deli slices give you an edge on the holiday appetizer game, ensuring your finished dishes are top-notch crowd-pleasers.  

3 Holiday Appetizer Recipes  

Mini Charcuterie Boxes  

Who wouldn’t be swept up in the joyful spirit of the season after seeing a charming display of mini charcuterie boxes? These striking creations are easy to put together and provide a focal point for a table filled with goodies. Not only are they a wonderful way to make your holiday appetizers tidy and portable, but they also serve as fun takeaways for anyone who couldn’t get enough at the party!  

To create your boxes, simply fill personal-sized pastry cartons from the party or bakery supply store with an array of gourmet cheeses, premium crackers and several slices of APPLEGATE NATURALS® Genoa Salami and Sopressata tucked into the corners. Fill the spaces between small fruits and nuts and finish with a pretty label or ribbon, then stack them on a decorated table for your guests to grab and enjoy.  

Pepperoni Twist Bread  

No need to work full-sized pizza or augmented slices into your holiday party appetizer plans with fun pepperoni twist bread on your menu. This elegant alternative to your usual flatbread selections gets your holiday appetizer all wrapped up in a dish that provides a satisfying bite and a table-filling platter in one.

Preparing a pepperoni twist bread gives you the chance to show off your baking skills by creating fresh yeast-based bread dough from scratch, though you can easily substitute it with a pre-made one-pound dough from the freezer section of your favorite grocer. After pressing the dough into a flattened rectangle, fill the surface with generous helpings of cheese and APPLEGATE NATURALS® Pepperoni for authentic pizza-style goodness. Roll the dough up tightly around the fillings like a cinnamon roll, pinch the ends, and give it a solid twist before brushing the top with butter and baking until golden. It’s a warm comfort-style treat you can make from scratch that’s sure to impress your holiday revelers!  

Pasta With Spicy Salami  

Who said you can only enjoy pasta salad in the summer? A warm spicy pasta salad peppered with the zesty flavor of artisan salami is just the thing to add an earthy touch to your holiday tablescape. Not only can it provide contrast to your more subdued dishes, but it’s also a sure-fire selection to bring rich color to the table. A pretty serving bowl filled with a blast of festive color in pasta form is welcome at any party.  

To achieve this holiday appetizer triumph, simply cook up eight ounces of rigatoni or penne pasta, add to a skillet filled with a variety of sauteed onions, tomatoes and APPLEGATE® Uncured Genoa Salami and top with pickled jalapenos and parmesan. Serve hot and watch your guests get swept up in the indulgent warmth of the occasion!  

Applegate is on hand to help you make every bite a memorable occasion in every holiday appetizer you serve. Whether you’re cooking up a multi-course feast as part of your holiday entertainment or simply sharing nibbles and noshes with your closest friends, Applegate lets you bring something special to the table.  

To learn more about adding fresh flavor to your holiday appetizers with a visit to Applegate.com.