It’s that time of year again when I’m looking through my recipes to decide what hors d’oeuvres to serve as my family celebrates the New Year together.
But what exactly is an hors d’oeuvre?
Hors d’oeuvre
[awr durv; Fr. awr dœ-vruh]
1. a small bit of appetizing food, as spicy meat, fish, cheese, or a preparation of chopped or creamed foods, often served on crackers or small pieces of toast, for eating at cocktail parties or other gatherings where drinks are served with no other food.
2. an appetizer, as a relish or more elaborate preparation, served before or as the first course of a meal.
Origin: 1705–15; < F: outside of the main course
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Word Origin & History
hors d'oeuvre
1714, "out of the ordinary," from Fr. hors d'oeuvre, "outside the ordinary courses (of a meal)," lit. "apart from the main work," from hors, var. of fors "outside" (from L. fortis ) + de "from" + oeuvre "work," from L. opera , (see opus). Meaning "extra dish set out before a meal or between courses" attested in Eng. from 1742.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Hors d'oeuvres. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Hors d'oeuvres (accessed: December 29, 2010).
And so…
Here are a few of our favorites – ones that both kids and adults will enjoy. I don’t know about you, but my kids are coming to thoroughly take pleasure in being in the kitchen, helping plan, prep and cook. Thus, there are also a couple of recipes that are kid-cooking friendly.
What are your favorites? Add them by title (and by link if you have it) in the comments and let’s see what we come up with.
Meatballs with beef, pork and pork sausage
What’s on your list of favorite New Year’s Eve Hors d’oeuvres?
~Enjoy!
