Appetizer recipe collection

Baked potato chips made with 1/8-inch sliced red potatoes brushed with butter and baked at high heat until crisp and golden. A simple homemade chip ready in 30 minutes.

Microwave baked sweet potatoes deliver tender, fluffy potatoes in minutes. Scrub, pierce, arrange in a circle with space between them, and microwave to perfection. Quickest healthy side dish without firing up the oven.

Classic Italian balsamic bruschetta with ripe Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and Parmesan on toasted French bread. Essential summer appetizer for tomato season.

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 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.

Moroccan beet salad with boiled beets dressed in lemon, olive oil, cinnamon, sugar, and parsley. Two versions: classic and a spiced variation with orange flower water, cumin, and paprika. Bright cold appetizer.

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

No-bake blue cheese terrine with toasted hazelnuts, hard-boiled egg, and fresh herbs set in a radicchio-lined loaf tin. A make-ahead vegetarian appetizer that slices cleanly for parties.

Vibrant beet dip pureed with soft tofu, apple cider vinegar, shallots, and herbs. A creamy vegan appetizer with stunning magenta color and earthy flavor, ready in 10 minutes.

Low-fat broccoli and mushroom dip made with cottage cheese, plain yogurt, garlic, and sauteed mushrooms. A lighter vegetable-packed party dip with creamy texture and no sour cream or mayo.

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.

Baked cheddar cheese balls with crispy rice cereal, butter, cayenne, and hot sauce. Dime-sized, crispy appetizer bites that bake in under 10 minutes and store indefinitely.

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.

Sharp cheddar cheese crisps made with just 4 ingredients: aged cheddar, butter, whole wheat flour, and salt. Crispy, savory baked crackers ready in 20 minutes.