Impress your friends with these simple appetizers. You only need a handful of ingredients to make a delicious impression on your taste buds and your friends.

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

24 large shrimp 

(raw and de-veined)

1 fresh pineapple

12 pieces of uncooked bacon

1. Start by heating butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Cut the pineapple into small cubes and slice the bacon in

   half so you have 24 pieces.

3. To assemble, place a piece of pineapple in the curve of the

   shrimp and wrap the shrimp and pineapple with a half

   piece of bacon.

4. Insert the toothpick to ensure the bacon stays secured.

5. Lightly sprinkle the bacon with brown sugar on each side.

6. In the hot skillet, add half of the shrimp and cook until the bacon

   starts to crisp up and shrimp turns opaque,

   about two minutes per side.

7. Repeat cooking process with other half of shrimp.

 

Baked Brie

 

1 wheel of Brie cheese

1 package of puff pastry

Fruit preserves or jam

1. Remove puff pastry from package and allow to thaw.

2. Preheat oven to 375 F.

3. Slice the Brie cheese in half so you have two thinner circles.

4. Spread one half generously with fruit preserves or jam on cut side.

5. Place the other half of Brie on top of jam.

6. Completely cover Brie with puff pastry and cut off excess dough.

7. Place Brie on a baking sheet lined with foil and brush the top of

   the pastry dough lightly with beaten egg if desired.

   This will help the pastry brown and crisp.

8. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Serve with your choice of crackers, bread and fruit.

 

 

Herby Mushrooms

 

 2 dozen fresh button mushrooms

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Start by preheating oven to 425 F.

2. Wash mushrooms and remove stems; set aside the caps and

    finely chop stems.

3. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan

   and add chopped stems and garlic powder.

4. Turn heat to low and stir in softened cream cheese.

5. When all is incorporated, add Parmesan cheese and 3/4 cup of

   your bread crumbs, reserving 1/4 cup.

   Thoroughly mix all ingredients.

6. Brush both tops and bottoms of mushroom caps with remaining

   olive oil and place top side down in a shallow glass baking dish.

7. Stuff each mushroom with a heaping tablespoon

   of cheese mixture.

8. Sprinkle tops of mushrooms with remaining bread crumbs.

9. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through and

   tops begin to brown.