Appetizers recipes

Hot German potato salad with crumbled bacon, chopped onion browned in bacon fat, and a tangy white wine vinegar dressing. No mayo, served warm, and ready in 30 minutes using the microwave.

Grilled seafood kabobs with shrimp, sea scallops, and mushrooms marinated overnight in honey barbecue-Dijon sauce. Smoky, sweet, and done on the grill in under 10 minutes.

Warm baked crab and cream cheese dip with a bite of horseradish, topped with toasted slivered almonds. Scoop onto crackers for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer in 40 minutes.

Roast loin of pork with apricot glaze: a honey-sweetened apricot and citrus glaze brushed onto pork loin as it roasts. Elegant holiday main with a microwave shortcut for the sauce.

Creamy tuna dip spiked with brandy, made with cream cheese, sour cream, and a dash of hot sauce. Whip it up in 20 minutes and serve with crackers, French bread, or fresh veggies. The ultimate party-ready appetizer.

Teriyaki chicken marinates broiler-fryer pieces in soy sauce, sake, sugar and fresh grated ginger, then cooks in the microwave for tender, glossy Japanese-style chicken in 20 minutes.

Mexican-style quesadilla pizza on flour tortillas with refried beans, cumin-spiked pizza sauce, green chiles, olives, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

Fresh tomato salsa with jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and lime. Basically classic pico de gallo with a sharp Mexican kick, ready blender-free in about 15 minutes.

Marbled herbed chicken pate with sweet leek and shallot, swirled with a spinach-basil layer. A silky French-style mousseline for elegant entertaining.

Meat-filled Chinese egg pancakes wrap thin egg crepes around seasoned beef and pork with scallion, ginger and garlic, then steam them whole and slice into bite-sized rounds. Dim sum-style appetizer or main dish.

Shucked oysters topped with fermented black beans and a savory sauce of soy, sesame oil, vinegar, and chicken broth, steamed for just 2 to 3 minutes. An elegant Chinese appetizer that's quick and impressive.

Curried sesame sauce made with tahini, curry powder, and soy sauce. A rich, nutty vegan sauce for mashed potatoes, pasta, biscuits, or roasted vegetables.

Japanese gyoza pot stickers filled with ground beef, cabbage, mushrooms, ginger, and sesame oil. Pan-fried until crispy, then steam-finished. Served with a soy-chili sesame dipping sauce.

Vegetarian party pate made from pinto beans, TVP, and shiitake mushrooms with mirin and mace, baked in a water bath and served cold on crackers.

Smoked trout crackers with lemon-dill mayonnaise top thin whole-grain crackers with sliced smoked trout and a bright lemon-dill aioli. A five-ingredient elegant appetizer.

Fiery hot salsa fresca with diced tomato, onion, sweet yellow and green bell peppers, and three habaneros for serious heat. Brightened with cilantro, oregano, and fresh lime juice. No cooking required.