Coffee-rubbed lamb "lollipops"

Lamb is a wonderful item to feature at a holiday gathering. It offers an upscale option, yet is simple to prepare.

Hot crab dip

Here's an East Coast party staple, made with California ingredients. It's a perfect dish to prepare ahead of time and bake as guests arrive.

Vegetarian flatbread

This delicious vegetarian appetizer is like a blank canvas that will help you clear out the crisper drawer in your fridge!

Cilantro garlic lime dipping sauce

This sauce doubles as a vegetable dip. Roasting the garlic mellows its flavor.

Spicy tomato basil dipping sauce

Why chili sauce? Because some like their cool treats hot!

Sweet-spiced nut butter dipping sauce

The medley of lively flavors in this dip takes plain fruit to a whole new level.

Trio of kebobs

Chef Joni Sare believes in simple, nutritious recipes that fuel active lifestyles.

Shishito peppers

The best appetizers pack serious taste sensation into bite-sized packages, and this dish doesn't disappoint! "Sautéed shishitos are great to nibble on with drinks, and they're insanely easy to prepare," says chef Adam Tortosa.

Farm-to-fork appetizer

This versatile dish can be adapted for any time of the year by substituting seasonal veggies. Chef Karrie Hills uses asparagus, fennel and beets in this version, but encourages you to use whatever seasonal vegetables you like.

Warm baked Brie

How can you possibly improve on the warm, soft, cheesy goodness of baked Brie? By slathering it in poached cranberries and pecans, adding radicchio and serving with perfectly toasted bread! Chef Gayle Pirie shows how.