Family time finger foods...what are you eating?

One of the things I really love about the holiday season is the break my kids have from school. We spend a lot of time hanging out and enjoying family time. My family is one that can appreciate good food no matter what the occasion.  The holiday season is no exception. In fact holiday finger foods tend to be the far more exciting. We spend the evening eating some awesome finger foods and playing games. The games on deck are jenga, spades, gin rummy, pictionary, dominoes and the list goes on. I have learned if you want to have a long night of play, I have to keep the food options light and minimal..otherwise it is a man down situation.

Finger foods are perfect when you're hosting a casual holiday get together, attending a potluck or when you just wish to spread some holiday cheer among your family, friends and co-workers. They are easy for people to handle when they just want a nibble and usually won't even require you lug along plates or silverware for everyone. Food should look as good as it tastes if you want it to be festive for the occasion. Versatile recipes make preparation easier and the spread more enticing. I am listing several that work for my family and hopefully it will inspire you to give a few of the suggestions a try. As always I say " Let's Eat"!

Chicken Bites

Chicken offers a safe bet for finger food. Pep up everyday favorites for holiday food. Popcorn chicken and wings, for example, cook quickly and are just the right size for finger foods. Chicken breast baked, cut into pieces and served with toothpicks for people to skewer them, is another way of serving chicken. Grilled or deep-fried wings are another good option. Chicken wings can also be baked. To create more flavor, add sauces, such as hoisin, barbecue or sweet and sour sauce, before baking.

Dips

Serve store-bought or homemade dips with toasted breads or crackers. Place the dips on serving platters or in bowls. A platter with a small serving knife works well and keeps people from dipping into the same area. A platter is a good idea if you have guests that tend to bite and dip, which is unappetizing to others. An excellent idea for a Christmas Eve finger food dip is a tray of crumbled gourmet cheese such as goat cheese. Top the cheese with olives, garlic, capers or anything that sounds like a good taste combination. Drizzle olive oil across it all and serve next to a basket of fresh bread cut into pieces and toasted. Place a small card next to each dish listing the name and ingredients.

Vegetables

Holiday food does not mean you have to load up on high calorie foods if you would prefer not to. The most basic vegetable finger food is the vegetable tray. Just cut vegetables in bite size pieces and serve raw. Raw vegetables are the easiest option and tend to go quickly.

Cooking vegetables creates a whole new set of tasty bite-sized food. Consider putting chopped cooked vegetables inside crescent rolls before baking. Then cut the rolls to create pin-wheeled veggie bites.

Roast garlic cloves until soft. Add sun dried tomato bits and mix, smashing the roasted garlic as you go. Hollow out cherry tomatoes and fill with the mixture.

If you would like to serve a soup, create a crème style soup from your choice of vegetables and a favorite recipe. Don't break out the bowls though; serve your soup as a finger food by serving it in shot glasses.
 

Deviled Eggs

Eggs are a great choice because most people eat them, they are inexpensive, easy to prepare and can make quite a cheerful display. The white cup with the yellow filling is nice and bright, but try dressing it up even further for the holidays. Sprinkle half with chopped fresh green herbs over them to finish them off and the other half by sprinkling something red over it, such as finely diced red peppers, paprika or pimentos. Lay them out on a bed of leafy greens placed on a silver tray for an attractive presentation.

Finger Sandwiches

Finger sandwiches are always a hit, and you can make a variety of types without much trouble. Some people might prefer sandwiches consisting of cheeses, lunch meats or chicken salad, while others might appreciate vegetarian options such as spicy black bean hummus, cucumber or flavored cream cheese with strawberry jam. Use different breads, such as white, rye, pumpernickel and wheat, for a lovely array. Instead of cutting your finger sandwiches into boring squares or triangles, make them festive by using holiday cookie cutters to cut out sandwich shapes into stars, bells or holly leaves. Toast them or grill them before serving to add warmth and texture.


Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

They make the perfect bite-sized vehicle for a savory stuffing, since sweet cherry tomatoes go with so many different flavors. The fact that they are bright and red for a great Christmas presentation is a huge bonus. Think of things you might normally serve sliced or wedged tomatoes with, and come up with a variation of them to stuff the tomatoes. Try stuffing them with crumbled bacon and diced lettuce for a mini BLT; with mozzarella cheese and pizza spices; with chopped lunch meats mixed with a ranch dressing; or with tuna and diced onions. The only thing to remember when stuffing cherry tomatoes is to slice a very thin slice off of the bottom of the tomato with a sharp knife so it will sit upon a sturdy base and not roll around on your tray.

Desserts

Finger foods are not just for appetizers or potlucks. Bite-sized desserts served as finger foods make it easier for your guests to enjoy a variety of sweets. Instead of baking your cheesecake, cake batter or fruit tarts in a large pan, make them in smaller portions in mini-muffin tins. Cut your brownies into bite-sized pieces instead of large squares. Opt for smaller cookie cutters when making your sugar cookies. Pipe puddings into miniature chocolate mold cups so they can be popped right into the mouth.