Quick and Elegant Appetizers

If you're planning a party, there's no need to worry that your appetizers will take all your time before your guests arrive. These quick, elegant appetizers are sure to impress, while still leaving you time to get yourself ready as well. The amount of appetizers you plan to make, along with the number of people invited to your party, will determine the final ingredient amounts for recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 honeydew melon, sliced
• 1 bunch of arugula
• Parma ham, sliced thin

Instructions

Top each piece of melon with a sprig of arugula and wrap with ham.

Ingredients

• 2 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
• Italian bread, sliced into 1 inch slices
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Place bread slices on a baking sheet.
2. Combine all other ingredients and top bread with mixture. Bake eight to 10 minutes.

Ingredients

For each appetizer:

• 1 fig
• 1 slice of prosciutto, thinly sliced
• 1 chunk mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Put cheese on top of the fig and wrap with prosciutto. Anchor with a toothpick.

Ingredients

• 4 large tomatoes, sliced
• 1 package fresh mozzarella, sliced into thin rounds
• 16 leaves fresh basil, chopped
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Arrange tomatoes and mozzarella on a plate.
2. Mix all other ingredients, and pour over tomatoes and cheese.

Ingredients

• Crackers or crispbreads
• Thinly sliced or shaved roast beef
• Cream cheese with chives
• Arugula
• Sea salt

Instructions

1. Spread each of the crackers with the chive-cream cheese.
2. Fold a slice of roast beef onto the cream cheese.
3. Layer with a few leafs of arugula and top with sea salt.

Ingredients

• Crispbread or other crackers
• Cream cheese, whipped
• Sun dried tomatoes

Instructions

Spread cream cheese on each crisp. Top with tomatoes.

Ingredients

• Avocados
• Red caviar
• Fresh dill

Instructions

1. Peel the avocados and remove the seeds.
2. Mash the avocado flesh coarsely with a fork.
3. Load serving spoons with the mashed avocado.
4. Top with a small amount of red caviar and a dill sprig.

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Scallops
• Salt and pepper
• Salad greens
• Scallop shells for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan.
2. Add the scallops to the oil and sear on each side for three to four minutes.
3. Place salad greens on each of the shells.
4. Layer the scallops onto the greens.
5. Salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients

• Beets
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Goat cheese
• Pesto

Instructions

1. Peel the beets and brush them with olive oil.
2. Arrange them on a baking sheet and place them in an oven pre-heated to 425 degrees.
3. Roast until soft.
4. Slice thinly and roll into cylinders.
5. Top with sea salt and arrange on a plate with goat cheese and pesto.

Ingredients

• Muenster cheese
• Grapes
• Grape tomatoes
• Basil
• Fresh mozzarella cheese
• Cooked shrimp

Instructions

1. Slide the muenster and grapes onto several skewers.
2. Arrange the mozzarella with grape tomatoes and basil on a second set of skewers.
3. Slide the shrimp onto a third set.
4. Arrange all together on a platter.

Ingredients

• Mangos
• Avocados
• Cooked shrimp
• Salad greens
• Vidalia onion

Instructions

1. Peel the mango, onion, and avocado.
2. Slice the mango and avocado into spears.
3. Slice the onion into two inch chunks.
4. Place a small amount of salad greens in the bottom of a serving cup.
5. Layer in a few slices of mango, avocado, and onion.
6. Top with shrimp.

Ingredients

• Pumpernickel crackers
• Cream cheese
• Different types of caviar

Instructions

1. Spread cream cheese onto each of the crackers.
2. Top with an assortment of different caviars.

If these quick and elegant appetizers are a little more sophisticated than your party or dinner requires, consider making some cheap easy appetizers instead.