Why The Shrimp Tree Is The Ultimate Holiday Appetizer

Many of the many holiday memories I have over the years include prawn cocktail dancing like sugar plums among the people and gifts.

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This is probably because my family has always served duelling prawn cocktail appetisers at Christmas. One classic and the other flashy.

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My father's family has flashy prawns. For 40 years, my dad has brought the prawn tree to his older sister Linda's Christmas Eve party.

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His cookbook-era shrimp tree has cocktail toothpicks holding small shrimp to a whole pineapple. The result is impressive. Unique and interactive, it's always popular.

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On Christmas Day, our shrimp cravings persist, so we visit my mother's parents a few towns over for more presents, merrymaking, and shrimp.

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My mom's side of the family's prawn cocktail is a lot more serious. This time, it's served on a platter that was made just for that.

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