Cracker

•Look for a sharp, white Cheddar that is on the dry side, such as English Wensleydale Farmhouse Truckle or Extra Old Black Diamond Cheddar.
•It's important not to whip air into the dough — simply mix until blended.

These savory biscotti are ideal for a soiree. Their crisp texture is accented by the richness of parmesan and the bite of black pepper — perfect for nibbling in between sips of wine.

One dough yields three kinds of thin, buttery Cheddar crackers. While it's a good idea to keep appetizers to a minimum on Thanksgiving, these (along with mixed nuts in the shell) will pique everyone's appetite just enough. Make sure you sample one of each—there won't be any leftovers.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Ted Allen's The Food You Want to Eat. This is the easiest homemade cocktail snack you could ever imagine. Even better: it's probably the most delicious one in existence—salty, cheesy, and irresistible. It's basically a very cheesy cheese cracker; just a bit of shredded cheese baked with a tiny bit of flour and some herbs until it's good and crispy. (And it has the added advantage of making your house smell fantastic.) It's also a great tasting and beautiful addition to a salad, especially if you're brave enough to try this: the moment the crisps come out of the oven, while they're still hot and flexible, try rolling them around the handle of a wooden spoon to form a cylinder. They're also great looking left in their natural state of flat, irregular ovals.

Get ready for the most deliciously tangy adult nibbles that have ever made you lick your lips. These are not only easy to prepare, but the dough can be frozen and kept for when guests drop by unexpectedly.

Unlike the sweet animal crackers in the familiar circus box, these boast a savory cheese flavor. They're a nice accompaniment to the chicken soup with rice.

In this recipe, the word biscuit refers to a savory cracker.

The rice grains puff slightly during frying, making these crackers wonderfully light and crunchy. They are also a great alternative to croutons on soups as well as salads. This recipe is an accompaniment for Purslane, Meyer Lemon, and Pear Salad With Makrut Lime Vinaigrette and Jasmine Rice Crackers.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

These crackers are wonderful with figs and a big hunk of Stilton

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 35 min

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 2 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 3 hr