Fire-Roasted Tomato and Olive Bruschetta

Prep Time: 20 Minutes Start to Finish: 20 Minutes 24 appetizers

1 Heat oven to 425°F. On ungreased cookie sheet, place baguette slices. Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until light golden brown.

2 Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers, basil and oil.

3 Spread 1 teaspoon cheese onto each toasted baguette slice; top evenly with tomato mixture. Serve immediately.

1 Appetizer: Calories 40; Total Fat 1.5g (Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 90mg; Total Carbohydrate 5g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 1g Exchanges: ½ Other Carbohydrate, ½ Fat Carbohydrate Choices: ½

Festive Touch You can replace the kalamata olives with sliced pimiento-stuffed olives for a touch of red and green.

How to Host an Appetizer Party

Throwing a festive appetizer party during the holidays is a great way to get friends or relatives together, enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the season! Here are our favorite tips and tricks to pull it off with ease:

Invite Guests Early It’s a busy time of year—get on people’s calendars before they make other plans.

Make It or Make It Easy Decide what you will provide: do you want to provide everything or provide the beverages and ask guests to bring an appetizer? To ensure you get a variety (and to make it more fun), designate the type of appetizer guests bring with the invitation.

You can designate the type of appetizer (see types below) guests bring by the first letter of their last name such as A–E bring a dip, F–H bring chips, I–L bring meat apps such as chicken wings or meatballs, etc. Or think of something more creative, such as the number of years they’ve known you.

Choose Variety The bigger the crowd, the more types of appetizers you’ll want to offer your guests:

10 to 12 guests: 4 to 5 appetizer choices
13 to 25 guests: 5 to 9 appetizer choices
26 to 50 guests: 10 to 13 appetizer choices

Select Appetizer Types Pick a variety of appetizers for your get-together:

Dips and Spreads: Chip and vegetable dips, salsa, spreadable cheeses, tapenades, relishes

Dippers: Veggies, breadsticks, crackers, pretzels

Protein-Based: Meatballs, chicken wings, sushi, eggs or egg dishes, cheese or tofu

Hearty: Mini sandwiches, sliders, pizza, bruschetta

Garden: Veggies or fruit that are served raw, cooked or stuffed

Decorate Elfishly No need to buy special decorations for your party. Gather a few of your holiday decorations as a centerpiece between the platters of appetizers.

Plan to Be a Guest Create a to-do list, knocking things off your list as early as possible. So when the day arrives, you’re organized, rested and ready to party!

Enlist Your Phone Keep track of when appetizers need to go into the oven or come out by using your phone to set a timer. Keep the phone volume on low or vibrate and in your pocket so it won’t be distracting to guests.