Last updated on February 9th, 2021
As much as I feel bad for the December birthday babies getting their big day overlooked year after year, I always have to throw a self-indulgent pity party for those of us who are chained to the stove straight from November through New Year’s Eve.
You would think the Pilgrims, Indians, Dear Lord Baby Jesus, Santa Claus, and the New Year’s Baby would have convened to discuss the complete inconvenience of having the nation’s two biggest food holidays so close to one another, and vote to spread the love a little bit.
But they didn’t, and so we’ve become accustomed to shoving sheets of gingerbread cookies into the oven as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey vacates the premises, to cleaning up the hot mulled cider mugs so we can make room for Champagne flutes.
It’s enough to make even the most dedicated party host rebel and order up a plate of pre-steamed shrimp cocktail from the local mega-mart.
Let’s not go to the shrimp cocktail well, please? Instead, why don’t we all take a breath and try a no-cook appetizer that’s a little more fun.
If you can’t even bother to turn on a toaster oven to brown your baguette slices, hey, don’t worry about it. There’s no law saying hors d’oeuvres aren’t just as good with crackers.
I also don’t feel like party appetizers should be confined to making a once-a-year appearance around the holidays, either. They can translate from festive cocktail hour to backyard barbecue just fine, and to be frank, this is the way I like to eat when I’m alone.
Bits and bobs on crackers, cheesy nibbles, and swipes of spreads alongside a glass of wine; it’s the Lorelai Gilmore diet, only with fewer boxes of takeout.
From a new version of the classic cheese-and-nut ball to spicy quick-marinated mushrooms to a crazy artichoke dip-guacamole mash-up, I love devising appetizer recipes. But hands down, my new favorites are Bloody Mary tomatoes.
It’s sort of an edible shot glass for my favorite brunch drink, dousing crunchy celery in vodka, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce before stuffing the soaked-up bits into fresh grape tomatoes.
Bloody Mary tomatoes are so good I have to share them with you now. If you’re serving these at a family party, just leave the vodka out of the recipe.
The same spicy, zesty flavors will still stick, but they’ll be safely booze-free for your younger guests. Whet your whistle with the following recipe!
Bloody Mary Tomatoes
Bloody Mary tomatoes stuffed with marinated celery and vodka are easy no-cook hors d'oeuvres. Serve these fun appetizers at a holiday party!
Ingredients
- 4 celery stalks
- 2 teaspoons vodka
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco or other hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- 1 lime
Instructions
- Dice the celery stalks and mix with the vodka, horseradish, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
- Let sit at room temperature for an hour or in the refrigerator overnight to allow the flavors to marry.
- Slice the tomatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the seeds out of each half with your finger.
- Pour the celery into a mesh strainer to drain the excess liquid.
- Fill the hollowed-out tomatoes with small scoopfuls of the marinated celery.
- Zest the lime and sprinkle the zested peel over the tomatoes before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 13mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.
