I would be content to exist on gluten-free appetizer fare all through the holidays. What's more fun than grazing on small bites of an array of flavors, textures, aromas and colors with family and friends during the holidays? Opening presents!

I'm sure you'll find perfect gluten-free appetizer recipes for your holiday gatherings in this collection of 30 recipes and wine and cheese pairing tips from About.com Food and Drink Guides. Gluten-free appetizer trays have never looked so delectable.

• Gluten-Free Seafood Appetizer Recipes
  
  

• Collection of 15 Gluten-Free Appetizer Recipes - Nancy Lapid, About.com Guide to Celiac Disease
  
  

• Tips for Pairing Wine with Cheese - Jennifer Meire, About.com Guide to Cheese
  
  

• Citrus Marinaded Olives - Rebecca Franklin, About.com Guide to French Food
  
  

• Gluten-Free Foccacia Bread Recipe
  
  

• Escargot Stuffed Mushrooms - Another fabulous appetizer recipe from Rebecca!
  
  

• Garlic Basil Cheese Spread - Jennifer Meier, About.com Guide to Cheese
  
• Pomegranate and Salmon Mousse Recipe - Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, About.com Guide to Home Cooking
  
  

• Gluten-Free Spinach Artichoke Dip - Victoria Groce, About.com Guide to Food Allergies
  
  

• Asparagus Salmon Rolls - Barbara Rolek, About.com Guide to Eastern European Cooking
  
  

• Homemade Gluten-Free Cracker Recipe

Image - 2009 (c) Marian Blazes, About.com Guide to South American Food

Lebkuchen is a traditional German Christmas cookie, similar to gingerbread but spicier. Also known as pfefferkuchen, and for a good reason, lebkuchen contains a healthy dose of ground pepper, or pfeffer.

My version of lebkuchen is made with an easy rice flour, tapioca blend and lots of spices. Lots. Cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, mace, ginger, cloves and yes, ground pepper. This cookie dough is very easy to work with. If you like your "pfefferkuchen" soft, roll out the dough a little bit thicker than you would for thin, crisp cookies.

My German / Scandinavian parents-in-law are coming for Christmas and I plan to "pfeffer" them with a big plate of gluten-free lebkuchen cookies! Frohe Weihnachten!

Recipe for Gluten-Free Lebkuchen Cookies

More Gluten-Free Holiday Cookie and Cake Recipes

Photos- 2009 © Teri Lee Gruss, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Everyone loves thumbprint cookies and this buttery tender gluten-free version is virtually identical to thumbprint cookies made with wheat flour, minus the gluten. This is definitely one of those "no one will know it's gluten-free recipes."

I used dark mint chocolate discs called "UFOs" from Trader Joe's. These fun baking chocolates have a minty, bittersweet flavor but for a classic, milk chocolate thumbprint cookie you can always use chocolate candy kisses instead.

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Mint Thumbprint Cookies

• Gluten-Free Cooking - What's Hot This Week?

Image- 2009 © Teri Lee Gruss, licensed to About.com, Inc.

This savory, lower carb version of latkes comes from Giora Shimoni, our talented Guide to Kosher Food. It's adapted to gluten-free diets with one simple substitution, replacing wheat flour with gluten-free flour. It's that easy.

To make the perfect latke follow Giora's tips:

• Don't make the pancakes too large that they fall apart when flipped over.

• Use enough oil when frying so that the pancakes won't burn, but don't use so much oil that the pancakes are oily.

• Adjust the heat when frying so it is just right. If you fry on too high heat, the pancakes might burn. But if you fry on too low heat, the pancakes will be mushy rather than crisp.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Kosher Gluten-Free Recipes from Giora-

Sweet Brisket Recipe

Herb Baked Salmon Recipe

Sara Adar's Pepper, Cheese and Sugared Pecan Salad

Image- 2009 © Giora Shimoni, About.com Guide to Kosher Food