Having spent holidays at my in-laws over the years, it has become very clear that appetizers are a "must" before dinner, especially when there are guests coming over. Aperitifs, as it is known in the French culture, is when one enjoys finger-food with drinks, before the real meal.
Here at my in-laws, aperitifs could be as casual as store-bought nuts and crisps with Coke (JL and his father), Orangina (me) or fruit juice (the MIL); or as elaborate as the MIL's homemade puff pastries, tapenade or duck rillette canapes, with the FIL's homemade walnut wine (me), pastis (JL), wine from his little inventory built over the years (the FIL) and fruit juice (the MIL).
Casual or otherwise, the common denominator being assembly work. It also helps when there is a little collection of trays and platters in the house (husbands, beware!) to hold different shapes, sizes and portions.
But at the very worst, the dessert plate or coffee cup saucer does the job as well -- just like the picture above. It was taken during our time in Cambridge when we had only a set of dinnerware for four people. These appetizers are more American than French, though.
Here at my in-laws, aperitifs could be as casual as store-bought nuts and crisps with Coke (JL and his father), Orangina (me) or fruit juice (the MIL); or as elaborate as the MIL's homemade puff pastries, tapenade or duck rillette canapes, with the FIL's homemade walnut wine (me), pastis (JL), wine from his little inventory built over the years (the FIL) and fruit juice (the MIL).
Casual or otherwise, the common denominator being assembly work. It also helps when there is a little collection of trays and platters in the house (husbands, beware!) to hold different shapes, sizes and portions.
But at the very worst, the dessert plate or coffee cup saucer does the job as well -- just like the picture above. It was taken during our time in Cambridge when we had only a set of dinnerware for four people. These appetizers are more American than French, though.
While this is slightly more than just pouring nuts and crisps into a bowl and a platter, it does not take much time either. Just ten minutes tops (including shelling the nuts!).
Mix some roughly chopped pistachios and dried cranberries with goat cheese, and top some thin crackers with teaspoons-ful of these.
Now where's that bottle of Riesling...
Mix some roughly chopped pistachios and dried cranberries with goat cheese, and top some thin crackers with teaspoons-ful of these.
Now where's that bottle of Riesling...
