Kitchen

[Sooner]

Having grown up in a community and family where relish trays were not served, and where we didn't do snacks before the meal, I thought I'd ask what's on your relish try?

And what on the tray do people really eat?  Having set up a lot of meetings, we always ordered a veggie plate--and it was always leftover at the end of the meal.  

So I'm curious about how the relish tray situation goes at your gatherings!  

[On It]

Our relish tray is two or three types of pickles, green and ripe olives, sweet peppers,and spicy peppers. I only offer a relish tray with certain meals like a barbecue, a hamburger cookout, or sandwiches.

[haddon9]

We only do this sort of thing with company.  On the actual "relish" tray I add a variety of olives which goes on the dinner table.

Before the meal I have several trays of appetizers.  I will do this at Christmas (sister in law does Thanksgiving). 

For Christmas appetizers, I will do cheese & crackers, a Greek tray with hummus, feta cheese, pita and roasted red peppers, my dd usually makes a warm brie cheese tray and I also add mini hot dogs and puff potatoes which my brother in law loves.  I also will offer veggies & dip too.

Yes there are plenty of leftovers but it is a holiday after all.

[PA Mom-mom]

@Sooner  When I was growing up in the 50's, our relish tray consisted of celery and radishes with butter and salt on the side. We also had a pickle dish with various pickles and olives. Now I just do the pickles and olives and leave the other veggies for my veggies and dip I serve for apps. I miss the original relish tray. 

Re your veggie plate for meetings, I never had a great response with that either. Fruit was a bit better, but I didn't spend lots of money on it. 

[RedTop]

My mom always did a relish tray at Christmas with carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, gherkins, and olives.  The grandchildren were the nibblers and usually finished it off.  

[kaydee50]

Never did or had a "relish tray."  Not sure why one would???  I can see doing a salad before a meal.

[ahoymate]

Modern take on the relish tray.

[Zhills]

Never did a "relish tray" but salad always seemed to be a"where to put it" dish with dinner...

Our salad was our "relish tray."  Bite sized veggies and dressings for dipping.  Usually included olives and pickles bite size lettuce pieces, cherry tomatoes, pepper strips, carrot sticks, celery and bread sticks!

Became out favorite way to do salad for dinner!

[ECBG]

My step grandmother always did a small clear glass relish tray at Thanksgiving.

The little tray had a few green olives with pimentos, Three inch pieces of celery stuffed with pimento cheese, and a few sweet gherkin pickles.  As I remember, Dad ate a few things off of the tray.  I didn't.

She made an insanely good turkey and dressing.  I asked her about her method until I graduated from collage and got the complete list.  

I loved that kind woman.  I hope I honor her every Thanksgiving.

Her family at the other part of the state told her "my" children "weren't really" her great-grand children; she told them "Oh yes they were!!!!"!

We took her to church every Sunday until she was bed ridden.  Our boys called her "Mina".

[jannabelle1]

Here's what I've seen that works and are usually eaten: ripe olives, green olives, Kalmata olives, small sliced dill pickles, celery with some type of cheesy or sweet spread on them, grapes, fresh strawberries, carrot sticks with dip

Relish tray pieces that aren't eaten much: broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower, zucchini, pearl onions, gherkins, large cherry tomatoes,

I've usually just added a relish tray to the dinner table or buffet...seldom made it for people to snack on before a meal.