In-a-Pinch Appetizer

I never mind when guests drop by unexpectedly or when lunch goes long and heads into cocktail hour — I'm a social person and the more the merrier in my book.

But what to do when it's time for a quick appetizer and you haven't been to the grocery store in days?

Here's a super-easy appetizer that fills the bill - it's hot, quick to prepare and requires no fancy ingredients. Chances are you have most of these on hand.

Read on for a list of no-cook appetizers that can be prepared and on the table in minutes.

In-a-Flash Toasts or Spread:

It's mainly four ingredients:

• finely chopped onion
• mayonnaise
• shredded cheese (whatever you got)
• curry powder

Mix a combination - I usually do half a medium-sized onion, 1/4 cup of mayo, 1/4 cup cheese and a teaspoon of curry to start.  Add a little more mayo if it needs more spreadability or more cheese if too thin.  If you have any fresh or dried chives or parsley, add that for a little color.

You can serve this a variety of ways: put it all in a little dish and bake it for 20 minutes and serve with crackers. Or spread it on some crostini, sliced French bread or rounds of pita bread and put it under the broiler for five minutes.  If you broil it, watch it like a hawk as it will turn from beautiful brown to burnt in a second.

Find your fanciest platter - set it out and voila! It's cocktail hour at your house.

Other ideas for quick, no-cook appetizers:

• cheese and crackers
• nuts of any kind
• pesto and veggies
• salsa and chips
• proscuitto or ham wrapped around melon slices
• fresh figs
• grapes
• olives
• breads/crackers/bread sticks
• crudites (cut-up fresh veggies) and dip or salad dressing disguised as dip
• smoked salmon - serve it with crackers, capers and sour cream or creme freche
• hard sausages and salami
• pate
• hummus
• deli delights: marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, stuffed cherry peppers, bruschetta, etc. from the deli counter

About this column: When she's not covering the town of Clinton, you'll find editor Fay Abrahamsson in the kitchen whipping up some savory and sweet treats.