30 melba recipes

A chilled, crunchy gazpacho-style soup packed with black beans, corn, jicama, peppers, cucumber, and zucchini in tangy tomato juice. Low-fat, vegetarian, and loaded with fresh vegetables.

Light Greek yogurt cheesecake with a melba toast and walnut crust, topped with dried figs poached in an ouzo syrup with cinnamon stick and orange zest. A Mediterranean twist on cheesecake that skips the heaviness.

Tangy potted cheese spread with sharp cheddar, port wine, caraway seeds, mustard, and Worcestershire topped with walnuts. A make-ahead British-style appetizer for crackers or Melba toast.

Cranberry-apple Stilton bites on Melba toast with port-braised fruit, creamy blue cheese, and chopped walnuts. A make-ahead holiday appetizer that balances sweet, salty, and funky in one bite.

Hot crab meat canapes on crackers with lemon-cayenne mayo, warmed in the microwave until bubbly. A quick, elegant appetizer ready in 15 minutes.

Roquefort canapes with cream cheese, walnuts, and a hit of Worcestershire, melted on crackers in the microwave. Ready in 10 minutes flat for easy entertaining.

Baked Brie with a homemade cranberry-pear compote, honey, currants, and pumpkin pie spice. A warm, bubbly holiday appetizer served with melba rounds or sliced fruit.

Lomi lomi salmon spread with smoked salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, and green onions. A Hawaiian-inspired appetizer that takes 10 minutes and pairs with crackers or melba toast.

Hot clam dip with cream cheese, minced clams, Worcestershire, mustard, and a kick of cayenne. Served warm with Melba toast for easy party appetizer.

Layered crabmeat appetizer dip with a seasoned cream cheese base, chili relish, and crab on top. Make ahead overnight and serve cold on Melba rounds.

Salmon spread cheese ball: a make-ahead party appetizer with canned salmon, reduced-fat cream cheese, lemon, and Dijon, shaped into a parsley-coated ball for melba rounds.

One of Mrs. Carter's favorite recipes was for a simple cheddar cheese mold. Served in a ring to be spread on crackers, the cheese appetizer was prepared for many of the Carter's family dinners and some of their official functions. One unusual ingredient was the strawberry preserves served in the centre of the ring.

Chili cheese roll made with American cheese, cream cheese, and pecans, coated in chili powder. A no-cook appetizer that slices into 40 rounds for crackers and Melba toast.

Too much fruit salad is a big-batch medley of pineapple, melon, citrus, peaches, kiwi, and banana bathed in apricot nectar and chilled overnight so the flavors meld. A bright, make-ahead crowd salad.