Got my turkey carcass picked...it was what was leftover from Sunday's "Smokin". The dog and I enjoyed it a lot, and I have a nice bowl of turkey bits for a soup.
Now...down to business.
I always like to have one item on my buffet that's very impressive. Everyone's favorite seemed to be my hors d'ouevre tree. Buy the largest styrofoam cone you can find, some medium-weight florist's wire, 6" skewers, and lots of ruffly leaf lettuce. Cut the wire into 3" pieces and bend in half like a hairpin. Starting at the bottom, pin the lettuce leaves to the cone until the whole thing is covered and looks like a little tree. When you get to the top, turn a pretty little ruffle of lettuce upright and pin it in place. At this point, you can slip the tree into a large garbage bag in keep in a cool place to the next day. Next cut cubes of ham, salami, and assorted cheeses. You'll also need chunked pickles, drained chunked pineapple, black & green olives and cherry tomatoes. Assemble your skewers with an assortment of 3 items, bag them up and refrigerate. The next morning, simply stick them all over the tree.
If you don't want to go to the trouble of making the tree, stick the skewers into a red cabbage, cauliflower or what have you, and set on a plate with leaf lettuce around the bottom.
Little sandwiches are great for stand-up eating. Ask your bakery to make you some "silver dollar rolls"...baby hamburger buns. Spread them with mayo, fill some with bits of sliced ham and others with turkey. Put a dab of leaf lettuce on top, and stick in a toothpick with an olive on top (opt).
Make a spread of braunsweiger, cream cheese and sliced olives. Spread on rye bread, and cut out a shape with a cookie cutter. If you don't like braunsweiger, use ham or tuna salad.
Make some baby creme puffs (the day before), and fill with chicken salad.
Make miniature crab quiches in muffin pans (use the paper liners). You can also do baby pecan tarts the same way.
More later...gotta get dressed.
