How did finger foods come about? Ratified in 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor. Even before the law took effect in 1920, Congress passed the Volstead Act, or National Prohibition Act, which outlawed the sale of “intoxicating beverages”—defined as any drink containing 0.5 percent or more of alcohol.

Of course, no amount of legislation could transform all Americans into teetotalers; instead, Prohibition simply drove alcohol consumption underground. Millions of people in small towns and large cities imbibed at secret taverns and bars called speakeasies. Many were drab, makeshift saloons in basements or tenements located in shabby parts of town. Some, however, were fine restaurants in their own right, including New York City’s swanky 21 Club, which featured two bars, a dance floor, dining rooms on two levels and underground passageways leading to a secret wine cellar.

To help soak up the booze and drive up sales, some enterprising speakeasy proprietors began offering more than just popular cocktails of the day. Rather than heavy meals, customers were offered assorted bite-sized canapés to snack.

It was also during this period that the custom of hosting cocktail parties at home became fashionable. The rise of these parties led to the popularization of an increasingly wide array of finger foods. Hosts paraded out such popular foods as lobster canapés, caviar rolls, crab meat cocktails, shrimp patties, oyster toast, jellied anchovy molds, radish roses, devilled eggs and savory cheese balls. Sweet selections included fruit cocktail cups topped with powdered sugar or marshmallows.

Even after the 1933 repeal of the 18th Amendment, the practice of serving finger foods at restaurants, bars and cocktail parties lived on and quickly became a popular American culinary tradition. Fannie Farmer’s “Boston Cooking-School Cook Book,”  contained many finger food recipes and became widely used in the United States throughout the 1920s.

Care to whip up some Prohibition-era finger foods at your next holiday gathering? Try the easy recipes below.

Mini Appetizer Pizzas

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound prepared pizza dough
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella (5 ounces)
• 1/2 cup pitted olives, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup jarred or frozen and thawed artichoke hearts, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes (chili)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat each of two rimmed baking sheets with olive oil. Divide prepared pizza dough into 32 equal pieces.

On a lightly floured work surface, press each piece into a 2-inch round with the palm of your hand. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, turning once to coat lightly in oil.

Season with salt and pepper. Divide mozzarella, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts among rounds. Sprinkle with red-pepper flakes.

Bake until the cheese is bubbling and dough is crisp and golden brown, about 12 minutes.

Marinated Olives

Ingredients

• 2 cups assorted unpitted olives, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 thin orange slices
• 3 thin lemon slices
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary
• Red-pepper flakes (chili)

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine olives, olive oil, orange slices, lemon slices and fresh thyme. Season to taste with crushed red-pepper flakes.

Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer olives, fruit and herbs to a serving dish; reserve oil for salads.

Pancetta-Wrapped Figs

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon juniper berries
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cup dried Black Mission figs, stemmed
• 12 ounces pancetta, sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds and cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips

Directions

Bring vinegar, water, sugar, juniper berries, peppercorns, and cloves to a boil in a small saucepan. Add figs, and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, to bring to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Transfer figs to a cutting board using a slotted spoon; cut in half. Wrap a pancetta strip around each half. Transfer, seam side down, to a wire rack set on a baking sheet. Bake until pancetta is browned, about 30 minutes. Secure each with a toothpick. Serve warm.

Sausage-Cheddar Balls

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups grated cheddar (1/2 pound)
• 1 pound bulk pork, chicken or turkey sausage
• 1/2 large yellow onion, grated on large holes of a box grater
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and baking powder. Add cheddar and toss to coat. Add sausage, onion and butter.

With your hands, mix until well combined and roll mixture into 1-inch balls. Place balls, 1/2 inch apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until balls are golden and cooked through, 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cans (15.5 ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and patted dry
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon cumin seed
• Coarse salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Pour olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven until the oil is hot, 3 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine chickpeas, cayenne pepper, and cumin seed. Season with salt and toss to combine. Place chickpea mixture on hot baking sheet and spread in a single layer.

Bake until chickpeas are crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels and let cool slightly. Serve warm.

Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini

Ingredients

• 8 slices (1/4 inch thick) baguette
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 jar (6 1/2 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish (optional)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Make crostini: Brush baguette slices on both sides with a total of 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet, and bake, turning over once, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool.

Meanwhile, make topping: Finely chop artichokes, and combine in a bowl with Parmesan, parsley, and remaining tablespoon oil.

Dividing evenly, spoon topping on crostini and garnish with additional Parmesan, if desired.

Shrimp Salad Canapes

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• Thin crackers, for serving

Directions

Bring water, wine, 1 teaspoon salt, and the bay leaf to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add half the shrimp, and cook until opaque, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a plate, and let cool. Repeat with remaining shrimp. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pour in oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in creme fraiche. Fold in shallot, chives and shrimp. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (and up to 4 hours). Serve on crackers.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in artichokes, Bread, Cheese, chickpeas, Crostini, figs, Healthy Italian Cooking, Olives, Pancetta, Pizza, Sausage, shrimp, Vegetables Tags: appetizers