Appetizer recipes for your next dinner party

After you’ve finalized the guest list and sent out the party invitations, it’s time to focus on the menu. Whether you’re hosting a dinner get-together or a cocktail party, you’ll need appetizers to curb everyone’s appetites. While deviled eggs and chips and dip are classic starters, here are a few recipes that are unique, very tasty and simple to make:

Tuna-apple mini melts
This appetizer combines sweet with savory and the apples provide the perfect amount of crunch.

Here’s what you’ll need:
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup diced Pink Lady apple
1 chopped hard-cooked egg
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 12-ounce cans drained white tuna
3 1.9-ounce packages of thawed mini phyllo pastry shells
12 Havarti cheese slices
1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:
1. Mix together the apple, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, egg, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
2. Stir tuna into the mixture and chill for one hour.
3. Distribute the mixture into the phyllo shells and put them on a jelly roll pan. Top with cheese slices.
4. Broil the shells for one to two minutes. Garnish with slices of Pink Lady apple.

Grilled shrimp
This simple recipe is perfect for a summer get-together.

Here’s what you’ll need:
16 jumbo shrimp, deveined
Salt
Pepper
2 halved lemons
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat the grill on high heat.
2. Slice through each piece of shrimp lengthwise, making sure to leave the shell intact.
3. Brush the oil over over the shrimp and season with salt and pepper as desired.
4. Grill for two minutes on each side (shrimp should be opaque).
5. During the last minute of cooking, put the lemons on the grill. Then, squeeze lemons over the shrimp for a citrusy flavor.

Sweet and salty honey cheese spread
Cheese and crackers are a quintessential appetizer, but this recipe puts a unique spin on the original.

Here’s what you’ll need:
1/2 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
1 10.5-ounce goat cheese log
1/3 cup honey
1 pint fresh strawberries (can substitute blueberries or blackberries)
Assorted crackers of your choosing
Mint leaves

Directions:
1. Cover the entire cheese log with sunflower seeds by pressing or rolling the seeds on.
2. Place crackers and the cheese log on your best serving platter. Drizzle the cheese with honey.
3. Sprinkle the berries over top and garnish with mint leaves.