Appetizers/2 recipes

Andouille was a great favorite in nineteenth-century New Orleans. This thick Cajun sausage is made with lean pork and pork fat and lots of garlic. Sliced about 1/2 inch thick and greilled, it makes a delightful appetizer. It is also used in a superb oyster and andouille gumbo poplular in Laplace, a Cajun town about 30 miles fromNew Orleans that calls itself the Andouille Capital of the World.

Salami roll-ups with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, and lettuce in flour tortillas. No-cook appetizer sliced into pinwheels, perfect for parties. Make ahead and chill.

Broiled potato skins loaded with pepper jack cheese and crispy bacon, cut into bite-size pieces for game-day appetizers. A quick broil melts the cheese in two minutes.

Delicious! And simple to make in a large batch for appetizers. As made in Thrace, the soft-dough may be spread into a sheet and cut in squares before baking, or each shaped individually into daintly "bastounakia" (little canes or sticks). The word "trifti" identifies the texture - crisp and crumbly in the mouth.

Artichoke bruschetta with marinated artichoke hearts, Romano cheese, red onion and mayo on baguette slices. Easy broiled appetizer ready in 12 minutes.

Low calorie tomato bruschetta on garlic-rubbed toast with sauteed onion, oregano, and optional Parmesan. Just 1 teaspoon of olive oil keeps this appetizer light and fresh.

Savory crab cheesecake on a buttery cracker crust with Old Bay seasoning, Tabasco, and lemon, topped with sour cream. A showstopping Maryland-style appetizer that serves 12.

Asparagus spears wrapped in bologna with a Dijon mustard and mayo spread, microwaved until hot. A quick diabetic-friendly appetizer ready in 12 minutes with just 4 ingredients.

Zesty black bean and olive dip layered over cream cheese with chopped hard-boiled eggs, lime juice, cumin, and crushed red pepper. A no-cook party appetizer that serves 12.

Party-ready shrimp mold using cream of shrimp soup, cream cheese, and gelatin for 12 servings. Baby shrimp and crab meat suspended in creamy gelatin make a vintage appetizer spread perfect with crackers or sourdough.