Appetizer recipe collection

Beach Party Shrimp Saute stir-fries unshelled shrimp with jalapeño, garlic, onion, and oregano in 10 minutes, finished with fresh lemon or lime juice. A bold, easy seafood appetizer or main.

Vegetarian bean pate purees a 7-bean and barley mix with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and cumin into a thick Mediterranean-style spread. Serve chilled with whole wheat bread or crackers.

Beau's notes: * There are no "jalapeno beans;" there are jalapeno peppers and pinto beans. I have two recipes, both of which are quite tref, but a Catholic should worry? But if you are hosting a Jewish person, smoked turkey will substitute most agreeably for the chazer called for in either recipe.]

Beef and Cheese Log: a vintage cocktail party cheese log with sharp cheddar, cream cheese, dried beef, and a pecan crust. Sliced thin onto crackers. Make-ahead party staple.

Beef Cheese Ball: a vintage cream cheese spread blended with horseradish and chipped beef, then rolled in more chipped beef. Cocktail party classic, mixes in 10 minutes.

Homemade beef jerky from flank or top round, marinated in soy sauce and slow-dried in a low oven or smoker. Lean, chewy, and savory snack made simple in your own kitchen.

Bell pepper rajas broiled with melted Monterey Jack cheese, black olives, and red pepper flakes. A colorful Mexican appetizer ready in 15 minutes flat.

Tangy bleu cheese spread blended with cream cheese, white wine, and Worcestershire. Served with sliced California dried figs and crackers for an elegant cheese plate appetizer.

Blue cheese cold souffle dip whips tangy blue cheese with cream cheese, butter, and Dijon into a billowy gelatin-set mousse. Serve with crackers and crudites for entertaining.

Brandied cheddar spread blends sharp aged cheddar with brandy, butter, and cream for a smooth, boozy cocktail spread. Hints of nutmeg and cayenne add warmth. Makes about two cups for crackers.

Sophisticate your dinner party with this dip that contains blue cheese and a hint of brandy.

A quick warm herb butter dip: melted butter stirred with fresh herbs for dunking seafood, bread or steamed vegetables. Five minutes to a simple, savory dipping butter.

Cheddar toss and heat popcorn with melted butter, sharp cheddar, garlic salt, and onion salt. Oven-warmed until the cheese melts into every kernel.

Cheddar walnut dip blended with yogurt, tomato paste, garlic, and a kick of cayenne. A tangy, nutty cheese dip ready in 10 minutes. Great with breadsticks or raw vegetables.

Three-ingredient cheese bread broils up bubbly and golden in 5 minutes. Parmesan whipped with mayo and slathered on French bread, the lazy cousin of garlic bread that secretly outshines it.

Cheese chiles are bite-sized appetizers made from cheddar and Colby cheese blended with ground red chili, shaped like tiny chile peppers with cilantro stems and a paprika dusting.