Thanksgiving at our home means plenty of eating – long
before the turkey makes its debut. With a crowd of guests ranging from toddlers
to grandparents, my husband and I are always looking for appetizer ideas that
will appeal to generations of picky eaters.

Thanks to the huge selection of both traditional and modern recipes
on Safeway.com,
this year we’ll have an appetizer spread that’s sure to make everyone happy. And,
thanks to Safeway’s 2-Hour
Turkey recipe, we’ll have plenty of time to focus on the hors d’oeuvres.

Safeway has a great range of recipes to choose from, but
like an exciting American Idol
episode, we’ve narrowed it down to these four finalists:

1. Bacon
wrapped dates

With just dates, Safeway SELECT bacon, and a few toothpicks,
you’ve got an elegant and tasty alternative to cheese and crackers. This sweet
and salty combo is all the rage at trendy restaurants these days – making it a
surefire hit for our hip guests. The kids will adore the bacon, and considering
Uncle Fred’s love for dates, I’m predicting a lot of food trading this year.

2. Melted
Brie with Apricots

Apricot jam, with a dollop of orange peel and orange juice
thrown in, is a sassy twist on traditional brie. We’ll be pairing it up with
Safeway SELECT Artisan French Bread Baguette slices. It’s a classic crowd
pleaser.

3. Winter
Squash Soup

This soup has three things going for it:

1. With
   its butternut squash base, it smells heavenly and tastes even better.
2. Served
   in teacups on a tray and passed to guests, it’s a lovely alternative to
   finger food. (And it will make you look so elegant, too!)
3. It can
   be made up to three days in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator and
   reheat before serving.

4. Turkey,
Brie and Cranberry Baguettes

With this super-easy turkey sandwich, my
football-watching/sandwich-loving cousins will have nothing to complain about.
They’re bringing along their hip girlfriends this year, who are sure to feel
right at home with this oh-so-stylish choice.

It’s been said that first impressions are everything. When
we greet our guests with delicious appetizers, and surround them with chic (and
value-minded) decorating
ideas, we know we’ll be remembered as nothing short of spectacular
hosts. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Brought to you by
Safeway

Tags | appetizers, recipes, stuffing, Thanksgiving, Turkey