Why Appetizers Were Invented

During the holidays, my mom and I rummaged through a few of my grandmother's cookbooks looking for recipes for Christmas cookies (lemon squares and almond crescents. Mmmmmmmm). One of the books we came across was a second edition, and for some reason, I started skimming through the introduction. The book's editors talked about the success of the first edition and the numerous changes that could be expected to be found in the second. Reasons behind the changes included traditional ingredients from the first that were no longer easily available; new ingredients that had come into existence since then; a more international palate due to increased traveling; and finally, the increasing popularity of appetizers in North American cuisine. According to the editors, appetizers were invented to keep husbands and guests OUT of the kitchen so that a good wife could continue her preparations and dinner would not be further delayed by the former's meddling "help". All this in 1972! Not all that long ago!!