Thanksgiving is almost here – time to organize and cook delicious, homemade food!
Here are my best-loved appetizers to make ~ from inventive to classics… with healthy twists!

Cheesy Options:

A crowd-pleasing Melty-Cheese Appetizer that’s easy to make and fun to eat!
Sauté Red Onions low & slow, add apples and seasonings and simply top a wheel of brie and bake.

THE Perfect Appetizer for Thanksgiving… and any holiday!

• To serve ~ have fun assembling, add the Baked Brie to a tray, platter or wood board (I chose a 70″s tray I love) 

• Choose and assortment of: Nuts, Apple Slices, Grapes, Sliced Baguette, Assorted Crackers (remember your gluten free guests), sliced Pomegranate, Apricots and Dates.

Aren’t they beautiful? Ready to go in the oven with assorted herbs on top that bake into the “Pennies.” I chose Chives, Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley and Basil Buds.
A revised recipe form the 1950’s – these Cheesy Shortbread Pennies are the perfect little crackers with big flavor. Simple to make – roll mixture into a log – chill, slice & bake! Top with garden herbs for an elegant touch.

Cheesy, buttery shortbread crackers melt in your mouth – a special recipe! (Gluten free option too)

A wonderful and easy appetizer for the holidays all will enjoy! Spread on toasted bread and soak up all the amazing flavors.
Cooks slowly in the oven until the peppers actually melt into the olive oil. Serve with toasted pita triangles or toasted baguette slices. Mediterranean Cuisine has bright, fresh flavors ~ mostly plant food and minimally processed staples where herbs and spices are essential ingredients.

This spread has so many culinary uses. Great served with good crackers and crudités.

Pimento Cheese: Adds a cheesy, slightly spicy flavor and creamy, dreamy texture to multitude of tasty things.
My recipe is lightened-up. Surprised? You shouldn’t be ~ I love to tweet recipes and reinvent them! I’ve used top quality ingredients, good mayo – but not too much and added greek yogurt for some tang and a creamy texture.

Pictured: added to a baguette slice. A wonderful spread with roasted garlic cloves for a mellow touch. Add some zest with the balsamic-honey drizzle. Holiday Entertaining just got a little easier with this tempting pâté – the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

Served  here in a vintage bowl – with crudités, bread & crackers on the side – let you guests make their own appetizer!

THE Fall Appetizer – almost too pretty to eat featuring in-season Fresh Figs.
Goat Cheese is whipped with Roasted Butternut Squash and topped with Fresh Figs, Maple-Balsamic Drizzle and Fresh Rosemary. Can top with dried figs or fresh sliced pears too!

Seafood:

Irresistible Zesty Pick-Up Appetizer ~ Crispy, crunchy and creamy – all the textures come together; a special recipe for Holiday Entertaining… Gluten Free.

Jumbo Lump Crabmeat’s flavor is left to shine… additions are bright and flavorful: mango, red pepper, chives,  jalapeño, lime juice and and the littlest bit of mayo to bind.

Sautéed Shrimp in a Hearty Garlic Herbal Butter Sauce Skewered with a Cube of Sourdough Bread to Soak up the Flavors. A Simple Scampi Sauce – I’ve added a boost of flavor with fresh herbs, scallions and jalapeño.
The perfect Holiday or Party Appetizer! Who is going to resist these??

The Rest:

Top your favorite toasted bread with this tangy- herbal Tuscan Marinated Mushrooms!
Deeply fragrant mushrooms team with flavorful Tuscan spices – coated with a wine-lemon-olive oil marinade. Tangy, delicious, and easy to make. Vegan. 

An amazing, fun & delicious EASY appetizer and side dish – These charred peppers are addictive and healthy! When pan-roasted the skin of the shishito pepper becomes blackened, resulting in an amazing smoky flavor.
A fabulous pick-up-appetizer. Vegan.

Shishitos are readily available now (hint: Trader Joe’s) – these I bought at a Farmer’s Market.

Dip Into This!  A Updated, Healthy Roast Garlic and Onion Dip

Nuts:

Add some crunch to any gathering. Raw cashews are soaked for easier digestion and are cooked in a slow oven until golden and crispy. Coat with sweet and savory, addictive seasonings: curry powder, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, smoked paprika, pink sea salt, coconut nectar, coconut palm sugar and unsweetened shredded coconut.

Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds and Brazil Nuts are roasted in a slow oven until fragrant and lightly golden. Kissed with fresh rosemary and a hints of a sweet-salty flavor. No overwhelming flavors, all complement each other. You can’t go wrong serving homemade nuts! 

Soup’s On:

My Favorite New Soup of the Season – Perfectly Seasoned and Quite Easy to Prepare.
The fabulous creamy texture of Honeynut squash makes a velvety soup – Thai spices from an unexpected place – in a little can… how convenient!
Roasted Honeynut Squash is added to a quick base of onions, shallots, ginger and garlic with broth (your choice chicken or vegetable), coconut milk and Thai spices.

Sunchokes lend a creaminess to warm soups, perfectly paired with the velvety smooth Kabocha Squash for a wonderful Fall & Winter Soup. A great festive yet simple recipe for Thanksgiving. Vegan.

Sunchokes tastes similar to artichokes and Kabocha Squash tastes like a cross between pumpkin & sweet potato.

Perfect for Thanksgiving! See my easy way to peel a Kabocha Squash. You’ll love the Cashew Crema with hints of maple & cinnamon ~ the Spiced Cashews make a terrific, crunchy garnish.
A universal soup all and your Vegan guests will adore! Can make the soup ahead and freeze for a hassle- free Thanksgiving soup. The garnishes make it extra special.

A healthy soup with a creamy texture from the celery root (celeriac) and potatoes. Delicious and Silky Smooth. Dairy Free. Add a swirl of Cashew Cream for a decorative touch. Vegan. Cooked with celery root, yukon gold potatoes, carrots, red peppers and broth – the soup purees to a creamy, heavenly consistency.

Get a Jump on more Thanksgiving Cooking –

One of my favorite times to cook delicious food for friends and family.

Here are my favorite dishes to cook ~ classics with healthy twists!

Thanksgiving 2022 MAINS & SIDE-DISHES “MY FAVORITE RECIPES”  (see ALL the recipes)

See TOO: Thanksgiving Desserts! My Favorite Scrumptious Holiday Recipes!

Time to get Cooking! (Enjoy the creative process!)
Enjoy the Festive Thanksgiving Holiday!
Karen

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Party Caramelized Red Onions & Apple Baked Brie

A crowd-pleasing Melty-Cheese Appetizer that’s easy to make and fun to eat!Sauté Red Onions low & slow, add apples and seasonings and simply top a wheel of brie and bake.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 48 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 3 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings (about 1/2 cup)

Author: Karen Sheer a zest for life

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Ingredients

• 13.2 ounces brie cheese

Caramelized Onions & Apples:

• 2 cups red onions thin strips, cut 1/4" wide
• 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons unsalted butter I use organic
• 2 pinches sea salt I use Himalayan
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons port wine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (without caramel coloring)
• 1/2 cup apples peeled, cored, julienned
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt I use Himalayan
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped

Instructions

• Remove brie from its wrapper - place it in a baking dish to hold, in its wooden container (if came with one.) Let come to room temperature for 15 minutes, set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Caramelizing Onions & Apples (topping):

• Ina large non-reactive pan (12 - 14"), warm evoo and butter over low heat. Add onions and 2 pinches sea salt; stir well. Cook for 25 minutes over low heat, stirring every few minutes until onions are dark golden and jammy. (Can be made days in advance; refrigerate.)
• Add light brown sugar, port wine, balsamic vinegar, apples and salt & pepper.

  Cook over low heat until the liquid has been just absorbed (apples will be amply cooked.) Remove from heat and cool.
• Warm brie in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, top with the topping, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary; cover loosely with aluminum foil and place back in the oven for about 8 minutes. Well be soft to the touch in the center - you want the cheese to be melty.
• Serve the warm brie on a platter with sliced fruit, grapes, nuts, crackers and sliced fresh baguette (see photos.) Add a small knife in the brie for serving.

  A nice touch - - add fresh pomegranate seeds on top before serving.

Notes

For a quick appetizer: Make the Caramelized Onions & Apples ahead of time (can be refrigerated for up to one week), then warm brie - add topping, warm through and serve!

This recipe may not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer.

 

COURSE: Appetizer, cheese, Hors d'oeuvres

CUISINE: American

KEYWORDS: Baked brie, caramelized onions & apples, party baked brie

Nutrition Facts

Party Caramelized Red Onions & Apple Baked Brie

Amount per Serving

Calories

133

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

10

g

15

%

Saturated Fat

 

6

g

38

%

Trans Fat

 

0.02

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Cholesterol

 

33

mg

11

%

Sodium

 

311

mg

14

%

Potassium

 

97

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

4

g

1

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

3

g

3

%

Protein

 

7

g

14

%

Vitamin A

 

204

IU

4

%

Vitamin C

 

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

 

65

mg

7

%

Iron

 

0.2

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.