Ham and Melon Appetizer

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.
Bruschetta

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

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.
Caprese Salad

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
- Arrange tomatoes and mozzarella on a plate.
- Mix all other ingredients, and pour over tomatoes and cheese.
Shaved Beef on Toast

Ingredients
- Crackers or crispbreads
- Thinly sliced or shaved roast beef
- Cream cheese with chives
- Arugula
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Spread each of the crackers with the chive-cream cheese.
- Fold a slice of roast beef onto the cream cheese.
- Layer with a few leafs of arugula and top with sea salt.
Sundried Tomato Crispbread

Ingredients
- Crispbread or other crackers
- Cream cheese, whipped
- Sun dried tomatoes
Instructions
Spread cream cheese on each crisp. Top with tomatoes.
Avocado and Caviar

Ingredients
- Avocados
- Red caviar
- Fresh dill
Instructions
- Peel the avocados and remove the seeds.
- Mash the avocado flesh coarsely with a fork.
- Load serving spoons with the mashed avocado.
- Top with a small amount of red caviar and a dill sprig.
Pan-Seared Scallops

Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Scallops
- Salt and pepper
- Salad greens
- Scallop shells for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a pan.
- Add the scallops to the oil and sear on each side for three to four minutes.
- Place salad greens on each of the shells.
- Layer the scallops onto the greens.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Beets with Goat Cheese

Ingredients
- Beets
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Goat cheese
- Pesto
Instructions
- Peel the beets and brush them with olive oil.
- Arrange them on a baking sheet and place them in an oven pre-heated to 425 degrees.
- Roast until soft.
- Slice thinly and roll into cylinders.
- Top with sea salt and arrange on a plate with goat cheese and pesto.
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Elegant Skewers

Ingredients
- Muenster cheese
- Grapes
- Grape tomatoes
- Basil
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Cooked shrimp
Instructions
- Slide the muenster and grapes onto several skewers.
- Arrange the mozzarella with grape tomatoes and basil on a second set of skewers.
- Slide the shrimp onto a third set.
- Arrange all together on a platter.
Fruit, Vegetable, and Shrimp Cups

Ingredients
- Mangos
- Avocados
- Cooked shrimp
- Salad greens
- Vidalia onion
Instructions
- Peel the mango, onion, and avocado.
- Slice the mango and avocado into spears.
- Slice the onion into two inch chunks.
- Place a small amount of salad greens in the bottom of a serving cup.
- Layer in a few slices of mango, avocado, and onion.
- Top with shrimp.
Caviar on Pumpernickel

Ingredients
- Pumpernickel crackers
- Cream cheese
- Different types of caviar
Instructions
- Spread cream cheese onto each of the crackers.
- 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.