Turkey Helps Make "Appetizing" Entertaining

Visiting with friends and family is one of the most anticipated part of the holiday season. Unfortunately, entertaining preparation can be stressful when coupled with the normal holiday rush. This year, cut down on the stress by serving your guests an assortment of quick-to-prepare, filling appetizers instead of a sit-down dinner or full-scale buffet.

Various appetizers eaten as a meal are also known as tapas, and range in size and simplicity from dips and finger sandwiches to stromboli and tapenades. Many tapas can be assembled and prepared in advance. Another advantage is that you don't need to serve them in a formal table-setting -- simply place these appetizers in different locations where it's most convenient for your guests to enjoy the food while socializing. To simplify even more, use festive disposable table cloths, plates, napkins, cups and silverware.

For quick and easy recipes you can rely on, try using turkey. Turkey is inexpensive, easy to prepare and an ideal ingredient for light, delicious appetizers. "Plan ahead when making your holiday shopping list and purchase large quantities of ingredients that can be used in more than one recipe," said Valerie Erb Tully, consumer affairs specialist for the National Turkey Federation. "For example, use ground turkey for Mexican Turkey Meatballs and Mini Turkey Empanadas, and artichokes for Tomato, Artichoke and Turkey Tapas and spinach-artichoke dip."

Appetizers are also a great way to use leftover cooked turkey. Use shredded cooked turkey in quesadillas, diced turkey in quiches and sliced turkey atop mini-pizzas. Regardless of how you serve it, versatile turkey is one key to making delicious, stress-free holiday meals.