Easy Party Foods

• Make a delicious cream cheese-and-lox appetizer ahead of time. Just bake a sheet of puff pastry, then spread a handful of uncooked beans on the pastry before cooking to prevent it from bubbling up.

• Let the pastry cool, then spread cream cheese that has been seasoned with a little dill over the pastry (figure A). Top with strips of lox and chopped red onion. Place in the refrigerator until time to serve (figure B).

Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

14-oz. can artichoke hearts, chopped
1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
1-1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
1 can green chilies

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Pour into an ovenproof casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to heat.

Remove the plastic and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees until brown and bubbly. Serve with crackers.