Easy Hors d'oeuvres

Brie-Jam Baguettes

Ingredients:

baguette
brie
fig-ginger jam

Preparation:

Slice a fresh baguette and place the slices on a baking sheet. Place one slice of brie on each slice of baguette. Top with a dollop of fig-ginger jam. Place in the broiler for about three minutes or until the cheese melts and bubbles. Any high-quality jam can be substituted.

Ingredients:

mini pastry shells
store-bought deli salad

Preparation:

Bake mini pastry shells in the oven until brown, according to directions. Fill each shell with a store-bought deli salad. You can also make a dessert in the same fashion, using a lemon curd or custard.

Ingredients:

high-quality potato or vegetable chips
sour cream
caviar

Preparation:

Add a dollop of sour cream to each chip. Top with a bit of caviar. You can turn inexpensive caviar into a tasty treat by rinsing it in a sieve under very cold water to remove the extra salt and dye. A high-quality, thick chip will not become soggy.

Ingredients:

cherry tomatoes
pastry bag
guacamole

Preparation:

Slice off the tops of cherry tomatoes. Use a melon baller to scoop out the seeds. Fill a pastry bag with prepared guacamole. If you don't have a pastry bag, snip off the corner of a plastic bag and use it to fill the tomatoes with guacamole.