From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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When guests drop in unexpectedly, as they do often during the holidays, it's nice to have some quick and easy, delicious appetizer recipes you can rely on.

Keep your pantry, fridge and freezer well stocked so you can whip up something tasty and pretty quickly. Pick two or three or four of these recipes that use foods you love and keep the ingredients to make them on hand.

And now you can relax this holiday season, because you'll always have something to offer guests in minutes.

Last Minute Appetizer Recipes

• Festive Melon and Avocado Cocktail
  This spectacular recipe takes a little more thought, because the melon and avocado have to be ripe. But once you have those, the assembly takes about 10 minutes.
• Baked Brie with Curried Chutney
  A wheel of Brie, or a few wedges, are great to have on hand during the holidays, because they can be used in so many ways.
• Roasted Red Pepper Pizzas
  These mini pizzas are delicious, fun and quick to make, and can be made with almost any pizza topping.
• Baked Tex-Mex Cheese
  A three ingredient recipe! Use the salsa that suits your love of spicy or mild.
• Mini Cranberry Filo Shells
  Always, always have the little frozen filo cups on hand in the freezer. You can fill them with practically anything!
• Creamy Cheese Spread
  Three kinds of cheese, in a four-ingredient recipe, is just plain decadent. I love this one.
• Fried Polenta with Tomato Salad
  While the polenta fries to a golden crispness, toss together the ingredients for the topping. Easy.
• Almost Instant Fondue
  Serve this super easy appetizer with a selection of crackers, some sliced apples and pears, and breadsticks for a delicious treat.
• Melted Pesto Cheese Dip
  Nothing is better than melted cheese, unless, of course, it's topped with pesto.
• Tapenade Tartlets
  Tapenade is a combination of finely chopped olives and seasonings. You can also use it to make Quesadillas, or spoon some on melted Camembert cheese.
• Spinach Quesadillas
  With tortillas, different cheeses, and your favorite taco or enchilada toppings, different quesadillas can be made in minutes.
• Sour Cream Pesto Dip
  Most dips can be served immediately after mixing; they don't absolutely need to be refrigerated. This two ingredient appetizer is so easy to make a child can do it. In fact, have your child make it, while you cut up the vegetables!
• Crab Spread
  You could also use shrimp or lobster in this decadent and festive spread. Yum.