When thinking of an appetizer to serve at upcoming holiday parties, skip processed, premade food and serve something fresh and whole instead. We love this idea from FitSugar reader CheesePlease; she posted it in the Snack Attack: Healthy Snack Ideas community group. Think of Grana Padana as Parmigiano Reggiano's high-maintenance cousin. This cheese is less nutty and salty; a much more delicate Read more

One of the easiest appetizers ever, which I've made countless times, is baked goat cheese. Normally I smother it in marinara sauce and serve it with toasted baguette, but recently I came across a recipe that turns the baked goat cheese into a Tex-Mex-style dip. The marinara is replaced with roasted tomato salsa and tortilla chips stand in for the crostini. The resulting dip is so good I couldn't Read more

I've never met a crostini recipe I didn't like and this one with fresh fava beans and pecorino romano cheese is like taking a bite of Spring. It's light, salty, and herbaceous. Although it takes some time to shell and prepare the beans, once you've completed this step, it's easy to combine the ingredients and slather on crispy toast. If you can't find pecorino, substitute parmesan. Serve with Read more

Not so long ago, I fell in love with mini twice-baked potatoes. Naturally, I just had to try another recipe for a bite-size potato; this time I made potatoes topped with tomato-avocado salsa. These potatoes are less labor intensive, but just as delicious. The potatoes are roasted until they're browned and a little crunchy, then topped with the fresh salsa and a dollop of a sour cream. My guests Read more

Still wondering what to serve on Easter? I've got the perfect seasonal appetizer for you: asparagus crostini with smoked salmon and cheese. It's crispy, creamy, salty, and delicious. It's also an incredibly versatile hors d'oeuvre that can be offered morning, noon, or night and paired with lemonade, sparkling wine, or cocktails. The different components (crostini, cheese mixture, and sautéed Read more

FitSugar reader Whipped shared this party-ready artichoke-walnut pesto crostini recipe in our Healthy Recipe group. Vegan Artichoke-Walnut Pesto Crostini Serves 4-6 The pesto can be made 2-3 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Otherwise you can freeze it for up to a month. Ingredients: 14 ounces canned artichoke hearts, drained 1 cup packed fresh basil 3/4 cups walnuts, toasted 3 cloves Read more

FitSugar reader Figandfork posted an inventive appetizer in our Healthy Recipe group. With just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can make it too. A healthy, super-quick vegan dip! See the full recipe for this walnut pecan pate at Fig and Fork, then share your own delicious recipes in our Healthy Recipe group. We may feature your post on our homepage! Read more

Historically, walnuts haven't been an ingredient that comes to mind often when I'm cooking — I typically eat them out of my hand and in banana bread, but that's about it. But recently, I attended a seminar with cooking host Joanne Weir and the California Walnut Board and Commission, where we enjoyed a walnut-centered lunch. From that broadening meal, I learned so many new ways to incorporate Read more

Classic shrimp cocktail is one of the world's greatest appetizers. The traditional recipe involves boiled shrimp, but during the Summer, why not use the grill to impart a smoky flavor on the shellfish? That's what this incredible recipe does! The shrimp are seasoned lightly with smoked Spanish paprika before being charred on the grill. Chili sauce and horseradish are combined with seasonings and Read more