8 Simple summer appetizers

Jun 01, 2011 7:00 AM by Whitney Coy

Posted in Food & Recipes / Entertaining / Entertaining Menus & Recipes

Serve Up A
Bit Of Summer

Summer is a time for throwing parties, but you don’t have to slave away in the kitchen to keep your guests happy. Try some of these simple summer appetizers to keep the crowd fed at your next gathering.

Proscuitto wrapped melon

Cranberry rollups

This tortilla has an unexpected fruity twist and is perfect for a warm-weather gathering.

Mix a softened 8-ounce bar of cream cheese with 4 ounces of crumbled feta cheese until the mixture is smooth. Add a handful of cranberries and stir just until mixed. Spread it over flour tortillas, roll them up and slice them.

Low-carb tortilla fest >>

Spicy sweet potato wedges

These wedges are great as an appetizer or a side dish for a summer party. Since they're made with sweet potatoes, they're much healthier for you than the average potato wedge.

Cut seven or eight sweet potatoes into wedges, toss in olive oil until lightly coated, and sprinkle with Old Bay Seasoning. Spread the wedges on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes or until crispy on the outside and soft inside.

Sweet potato nutrition: Cooking sweet potatoes >>

Wrapped melon

This appetizer is super simple and can be served at room temperature or chilled. Any type of melon works, so choose your favorite.

Use a melon baller to cut the melon into balls or a knife to cut the melon into bite-size chunks. Wrap the melon in thinly-sliced prosciutto and hold it in place with toothpicks.

Meatballs

Meatballs are always a crowd pleaser. This recipe takes only minutes to prepare, and it cooks in your slow cooker while you get ready.

Mix a medium jar of grape jelly with a jar of chili sauce in a slow cooker and add a bag of frozen meatballs. Let them cook on high for at least two hours, and serve with toothpicks for easy cleanup.

Keep warm appetizers warm in a chafing dish. Cold appetizers will stay chilled on a plate over a bath of ice water.

Tuna-topped crackers

These finger foods are hard to resist and even harder to stop eating once you've started, so make lots!

Simply mix together tuna, olive oil and minced garlic. Spread the mixture on a cracker and top it with a halved cherry tomato.

White bean bruschetta

Bruschetta is simple to make, but looks so elegant. You can top this versatile bread with nearly anything if white beans aren't your style.

Cut a loaf of French bread into thick slices, brush with olive oil and bake until toasted. Drain and mash canned white beans and slather it on top of the toasted bread. Sprinkle olive oil, salt and pepper on top of the beans and serve.

Two ways to make bruschetta >>

Sizzling nachos

Everyone loves nachos, and these will go quickly -- so make more than one plate.

Spread tortilla chips evenly on a large, oven-safe plate. Sprinkle heavily with grated cheeses of your choice and bake until the cheese is melted. Add taco-seasoned hamburger, beans, sour cream, salsa and guacamole.

Cucumber bites

These cool and refreshing treats are perfect for a hot summer day.

Peel a cucumber and cut it into 1-inch slices. Scoop out the middle of each slice to make a bowl. Fill the scooped-out center of each slice with plain yogurt and top with raisins. Serve cold.