Three Simple Appetizers To Wow Your Guests 02.08.2013

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Whether you’re having a dinner party or just a casual meal, it’s great to have an arsenal of simple yet delicious appetizers at the ready. They also make a fun meal all themselves when served together as a group.

The simple answer to the appetizer question is fresh fruits, veggies and of course, cheese and crackers. But why not try a few additional things that will have your guests thinking you went all out when really, it was a breeze. Everything you need to make three amazing appetizers can be added right to your grocery list app and picked up in no time.

Pesto Roll-Ups

These are delicious to set out for guests and will have them reaching for more. But they utilize store-bought ingredients and minimal hands-on time which makes them perfect for the busy host or hostess.

Separate a package of refrigerated crescent rolls into triangles following the markings. Spread each triangle with pre-made pesto then cut each in half lengthwise to make 16 triangles. Roll each triangle up from large end to small end and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden.

Roasted Garlic Spread

Peel off the papery outer layers of a head of garlic but leave the cloves and bulb intact. Cut off the pointy end of the bulb approximately 1/4 inch and place cut side up in a muffin tin or oven safe custard cup. Drizzle with olive oil and bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the cloves feel soft when pressed.

Allow the garlic to cool just enough to handle then squeeze the paste-like garlic from the bulb into a serving dish. The resulting garlic spread is mellow, rich and garlicky without being over-powering. Serve with slices of baguette, crusty bread or crackers for spreading.

Brie en Croute

Serving up Brie en croute makes a huge impact at a gathering. It really brings your status of host or hostess to the next level and it isn’t difficult to make. It may take just a bit more time to prepare than some of the other appetizers featured here but it’s always a huge hit.

• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1 8-ounce wheel of brie
• 1/2 cup high-quality jam (flavor of your choosing)
• 2 eggs, beaten

Allow puff pastry to thaw for about 20 minutes. While the pastry is thawing, melt butter in a small skillet or pot and sauté the nuts in the butter for approximately 5 minutes.

Gently roll the puff pastry out a bit to increase the size by 1-2 inches in each direction. Brush both sides of the pastry sheet with beaten egg. Place the brie in the center of the pastry. Top with sautéed nuts and then jam. Bring the corners of the sheet up and together above the brie, twisting slightly to form a bundle. Tie the gathered pastry with kitchen string and form string into a bow. You can arrange the pastry until the bundle is how you like it. Place bundled brie on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with crackers.

These three appetizers are simple to prepare yet they are sure to wow guests when served up at your next gathering. As far as whether or not you share your oh so easy recipes with guests or let them think you spent hours in the kitchen, well…your secret is safe with us.