36 second recipes

Golden baked croutes layered with deviled ham paste and a puffy cream cheese topping with sauteed onion and chives. Bite-sized, hot, and gone in seconds.

Bite-sized baked egg cups loaded with cheddar, Monterey Jack, green chiles, and cumin. Makes 30 mini appetizers that disappear the second they hit the table.

Seasoned mayo spread with onion powder and celery salt. A three-ingredient sandwich condiment that adds savory depth to burgers, wraps, and deli sandwiches in seconds.

Let's have a cup of blue margaritas to give it a change, the bright color and refreshing taste will definitely want you to ask for second cup.

While Schwartz describes the name for this Israeli dish as slightly pretentious, he notes that it won a cooking competition and found its way onto the menus of five star hotels. He recommends serving it over a bed or bulgur pilaf.

Savory crawfish beignets stuffed with sautéed crawfish tails, garlic, cheddar, and Swiss cheese in a crispy biscuit dough. A Louisiana appetizer that'll have folks lining up for seconds.

Deep-fried Camembert dredged in mustard-herb flour and a spicy bread crumb crust with chili powder and cayenne. Crackling-crisp outside, molten cheese inside. A 30-second appetizer.

Tender squid poached for 30 seconds in white wine, lemon, and garlic, then chilled in its marinade. A light, bright Mediterranean-style appetizer or cold pasta topping ready in minutes.

Stuffed green olives wrapped in a sharp cheddar dough with paprika and cayenne, then baked until golden and puffy. Bite-sized, salty, cheesy, and gone in seconds at any party.

Salmon scallops pounded paper-thin, flash-cooked in seconds, and served over wilted garlicky spinach with a bright lemon-parsley pan sauce. French bistro technique for sky-high quality dinner.

Spaghettini tossed with sauteed leeks, garlic, white wine, and chopped clams, finished with peppery arugula wilted in at the last second. Italian seafood pasta dinner for two in 45 minutes.

Halloween face paint mixes cornstarch, water, cream, and food coloring into a homemade non-toxic costume paint. Skin-safe, kid-friendly, and ready in seconds for trick-or-treat night.

Microwave meringues made with just egg white and powdered sugar in under 15 minutes. No oven needed. These two-ingredient meringue cookies puff up light and crisp in 90 seconds flat.

Broccoli and shredded carrots baked in a creamy cheddar and sour cream sauce with a crunchy herb stuffing topping. The side dish that gets even veggie skeptics coming back for seconds.

Lighter sour cream substitute made from cottage cheese, lemon juice, and skim milk blended smooth in seconds. A low-fat dollop for baked potatoes, dips, and tacos with the same tang.

Beer float made with chocolate ice cream and a 12-ounce pour of beer in a tall glass. Two ingredients, ready in 30 seconds, and the strangest dessert-drink you'll ever love.