Toast

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. This peperonata would also be delicious tossed with pasta and the small balls of mozzarella called bocconcini—and as a condiment on sandwiches.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in less than 45 minutes.

Bruschetta — a rustic Italian canapé — is the perfect vehicle for the robust flavors of late summer. Serve these topped toasts as a first course or, with a salad and a glass of wine, as a light supper.

Made with less water than is used for soft polenta, the firm polenta in this appetizer has a texture like that of dough. Make sure the work surface, rolling pin and cookie cutter are wet — otherwise, the polenta will stick.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is one of my favorite hors d'oeuvres. Normally I make them as rounds, but I have learned that you can also make them larger in sandwich form, which works very well. Any way, shape, or form, these simple toasts are the best. The onions and mayonnaise melt together under the high heat of the broiler and taste delicious. They're a great nibble to serve to get your appetite going, and they couldn't be easier to put together. I like to use a sweet Vidalia onion if I can find it.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 50 min Pasta wasn't always the carbohydrate vehicle of choice — in the '40s, lots of saucy things were spooned onto toast. These mushrooms appeared in one of our stories about Katish — the Russian cook immortalized by Gourmet's Wanda E. Ivanoff — who liked their versatility as a side dish or main course, and who often made a big batch to keep on hand for impromptu snacks.

Other herbs — such as tarragon, thyme or basil — would also work well in this recipe.

Steve Silverman of South Burlington, Vermont, writes: "In my cooking I tend to be very quick and health-conscious. During the summer, my wife, Mary, and I usually grill chicken or fish and make salads. I'll use whatever fresh vegetables and ingredients I have on hand and come up with a wonderful meal for the two of us." Serve this party appetizer with the toasted-baguette rounds or your favorite crackers. You can also double the tomato topping for a great pasta salad.

The artichoke puree has a nice tarragon flavor that is a lovely complement to the beef. Use the remaining puree as a dip for crudités or pita bread.

Fontina cheese is available at cheese shops and some supermarkets.

If you cannot find smoked chicken, use smoked turkey instead.

The freshest greens and a blend of sweet and savory ingredients are the secrets to the appealing first course for this Italian dinner.

Leaping off the backs of onion-soup-mix boxes and showing up at cocktail parties everywhere, Lipton’s sour cream-and-onion dip took the country by storm. Convenient and quick, the dip also tasted great on potato chips, without which, in the fifties anyway, it wasn’t a party. These days it isn’t a party without little toasts topped by something Mediterranean-hence this zesty update.

Short of time? Then skip the broiling, and serve the crostini cold.

Grapes marinated in Port with rosemary and them combined with the mild garlic and the creamy cheese lead to an inventive appetizer. Use both red and green grapes for a pretty presentation.