Easy Hors D' Oeuvres for Thanksgiving Day

Deciding what to serve as appetizers or hors d’ oeuvres for Thanksgiving day can be a puzzle - people definitely need something to snack on while watching TV, visiting and waiting for the big meal, but a large, heavy spread of hors d’ oeuvres is inappropriate. The occasion calls for snacks that are light, dramatic and festive - but simple to prepare and easy on the cook. Here are a few ideas for perfect holiday hors d’ oeuvres with a flavorful, but light touch…

Toasted Pumpkin or Squash Seeds

Save the seeds from your Autumn pumpkin and squash and turn them into a delicious crunchy appetizer…

Rinse the pumpkin or squash seeds well and bring to boil in salted water in a saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 2 hours. Drain and dry on a linen towel. Heat oven to 250 degrees. In a shallow cooking sheet or baking pan, drizzle seeds with olive or vegetable oil and sprinkle with kosher or sea salt. Bake in the oven until seeds are toasted brown. You’ll want to stir or shake the pan periodically to make sure they toast evenly. Season with more salt, if needed, when you remove them from the oven. These will store for a few weeks in a tightly covered jar or container, but they are delicious fresh from the oven.

Marinated Garbanzo Beans

Drain 2 cans of garbanzo beans and place in a glass or plastic bowl. Prepare a marinade of:
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or herbal-flavored vinegar
½ cup olive oil
2 peeled garlic cloves
Salt

Whisk together and pour over beans. Cover, marinate and chill in the refrigerator 4 hours or overnight. Drain and serve.

Spiced Nuts

For each 2 cups of nuts (you can use any nuts you like, or a combination), you’ll need:

¼ cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon curry or chili powder (depending on how spicy you want to make them)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt
Mix everything except the nuts and salt and put in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in nuts and toast about 5 minutes or until toasted and brown, remove from skillet and drain, salt and serve.