Unique veggie tray.

[Niamh]

My MIL, who is famously controlling about her Thanksgiving dinners, has finally backed down and allowed us to bring something this year. We got assigned a veggie tray.

A veggie tray.

Since nobody is allowed around the tables until right at dinner time, this will be put out with the rest of the dinner, and you know how appealing a veggie tray will be with things like turkey and potatoes and gravy around it.So my dilemma is this. I really don't want to take a normal carrot bullets veggie tray.

Does anyone have any suggestions to really make it pop and be appealing? TIA!

[Purple*Lotus]

I find that veggie trays are always popular when set out with everything else at things like my work's monthly pot luck. 

I would include slices of red/orange/yellow bell peppers, sugar snap peas, baby tomatoes.  Yum!

[Starflower]

You could also cut the veggies to look fancy. Like carrot flowers, cucumbers can be scored lengthwise with a fork instead of peeled. Or you could try something like this: http://ediblecraftsonline.com/edible_creations/fruit_and_vegetable_carving/index.htm

Or maybe order a veggie version of an edible arrangement if you don't want to do all the work?

This might also give you some ideas: http://www.veggiebouquet.com/bouquet.html

Note: I am not endorsing any of these - I just found them by googling on the web.

Oooh - this one looks easy yet very attractive! http://gourmet.lovetoknow.com/Edible_Vegetable_Arrangements

[blumooned]

I agree with the idea to make the veggies fancy & fun.  Also, make sure to include dip (or 2) & make it the best dip anyone's ever had!  So they have to keep eating the veggies just to get more dip!  I don't have specific recipes for you, but here's a couple that come to mind:

spinach artichoke blue cheese

red pepper & feta (I do have a recipe for this if you want it)

french onion, but homemade

Also, include veggies that aren't so common: zucchini or summer squash, radishes, asparagus (blanched first), & I second the cherry toms & snap peas mentioned by PP.

I have never eaten nor made them, but I always read rave reviews about kale chips - would those work in this situation?

[Storm Bride]

I make kale chips as a snack for a homelearning meetup and they're usually devoured by everybody - but I don't think they'd really work on a veggie plate.

I actually think veggie plates look very appealing on a holiday table - so colourful. I like to mix up a couple shades of green (broccoli, cucumber, celery, sugar snap peas), white (cauliflower or jicama), orange (carrots, orange pepper), red (cherry/grape tomatoes, red pepper) and yellow (peppers). I don't use all those on every tray, but I try to hit at least four colours.