Appetizers are food bites that are served before the main course. They are small bite-sized snacks, served hot as well as cold using a wide variety of food ingredients. One need not restrict serving appetizers just before meals; they can also be eaten as mid-day snacks to satisfy hunger pangs. Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms Ingredients

• Large mushroom, 1 lb
• Onion (finely chopped), 1
• Fresh bread crumbs, ½ cup
• Cheddar cheese (coarsely grated), as required
• Walnuts, ½ cup
• Fresh parsley leaves (chopped), ½ cup
• Butter, 6 tbsp.
• Salt, ¼ tsp.

Wash the mushrooms under running water, and then drain them. Cut off the mushroom stems, and chop them finely; set aside. In a pan, melt some butter, and lightly brush the mushroom tops with it. Toast the walnuts until they release an aroma. Cool them, and chop into small pieces. In a pan, heat the remaining butter, and sauté the chopped mushroom stems. Remove the pan from the heat, and add all the other ingredients to it except the mushrooms. Stir well, and stuff the mushrooms with the mixture, making a small mound in each cap. Place the mushrooms with the stuffed side up in a baking sheet, and bake in a 350 °F preheated oven until the cheese begins to melt and turns golden brown. Salmon Turnovers Ingredients

• Dinner roll dough, 1½ cup
• Salmon, 14 oz.
• Cream cheese, 3 oz.
• Parmesan cheese (grated), 3 tbsp.
• Green onions (sliced), ¼ cup
• Dijon-style mustard, 2 tsp.
• Fresh lemon juice, 2 tsp.
• Dill weed, 1 tsp.

Shred the salmon into small pieces, and thoroughly combine it with the onion, cheese, lemon juice, mustard, and dill. Roll out the dinner roll dough in shape of triangles. Add 1½ tablespoon of the filling into each triangle. Without letting the contents spill out, fold in half to again form a triangle. Press the edges firmly. Place them in the baking sheet, and bake in 350 °F preheated oven until golden. Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps Ingredients

• Red apple (chopped), 1
• Fresh strawberries (chopped), 1 pint
• Banana (chopped), 1
• Kiwifruit (chopped), 1
• Fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup
• Sugar, ½ cup
• Ground cinnamon, 1¼ tsp.
• Ground nutmeg, ¼ tsp.
• Tortillas, 4

In a large bowl, mix the banana, strawberries, apple, and kiwifruit. In another bowl, mix half of the sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg with the lemon juice. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour this in the fruit bowl, and toss well. Refrigerate it. Cut the tortillas into strips. Arrange them in baking sheets, and lightly coat with cooking oil. In a small bowl, mix the remaining cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle this over the tortilla chips, and bake in a 350 °F preheated oven until lightly browned. Set aside and cool. Serve with the chilled fruit salsa. Curried Chicken Sandwiches Ingredients

• Brown bread, 12 slices
• Chicken pieces (cooked and cubed), 2 cups
• Green onions (sliced), 2 tbsp.
• Celery (sliced), ½ cup
• Pecans (chopped), ¼ cup
• Dried cranberries, ¾ cup
• Red apple (chopped), 1
• Lime juice, 2 tsp.
• Salad dressing, ¾ cup
• Curry powder, ½ tsp.
• Lettuce leaves

In a large bowl, mix the chicken cubes, onions, celery, pecans, apple, and cranberries. Combine all these ingredients with salad dressing, lime juice, and curry powder, and coat them well; refrigerate. Before serving, cut each slice of bread into a desired shape, using a cookie cutter. Place a lettuce leaf on each slice, top it with the chilled curried chicken mixture, and serve.