Noelle Carter is the former Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen director. She left in January 2019.
Morton's smoked salmon pizza
Time 15 minutes
Yields Serves: 6 to 8
Aunt Mary's yalanchi (stuffed grape leaves)
Time 2 hours
Yields Makes about 5 dozen yalanchi
Black bean hummus
Time 20 minutes
Yields Serves 12 to 16
Cheese-and-spinach phyllo rolls
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 3 dozen pieces
Philly cheesesteak lettuce cups
Time 20 minutes
Yields Serves 1
Cream cheese balls with sesame and pistachios
Time 25 minutes
Yields Makes 15 cheese balls
Super wings
Time 3 hours
Yields Serves 12 to 24
Pissaladiere with spiced ricotta, radicchio and poached apricots
Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Yields Makes 24 pieces
Mushroom and cheese calzones
Time 2 hours
Yields Serves 2 1/2 dozen
Romesco with grilled bread, spring onions and shrimp
Time 45 minutes
Yields Serves 4 to 8
Ginger soy chicken wings
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 4 to 6 appetizer portions
Peel-'n'-eat shrimp
Time 55 minutes
Yields Serves about 5 (10 shrimp each)
Guacamole
Time 10 minutes
Yields Makes 2 cups
Beer-battered shrimp with classic tartar sauce
Time 30 minutes
Yields Serves 6 to 8
Stuffed fried olives
Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yields Serves 12 to 16 (64 olives)
Parmesan balls
Time 45 minutes
Yields Makes 26 balls
Champagne nuts
Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Yields Serves 8
Chile con queso
Time 50 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 10
Giuseppe's mussels in sambuca
Time 35 minutes
Yields Serves 4 to 6
Savory tomato galette
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 6 to 8
Orso's Romano pizza
Time 45 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 12
Roasted pepper rolls stuffed with tuna
Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yields Makes about 24 small rolls, serving 8 as an hors d'oeuvre
Roasted zucchini and labneh dip with mint
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 4
Grilled eggplant dip with tahini, yogurt and roasted chiles
Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Yields Serves 4 to 6
Blue Cheese Beignets
Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 10
Pan-roasted fresh garbanzo beans
Time 10 minutes
Yields Serves 4
Bacon-wrapped pork belly
Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Yields Serves 4 to 8
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Dip
Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Yields Serves 10 to 12
Cracked wheat mana’esh (flatbread with za’atar)
Time 35 minutes
Yields Makes 8 (6- to 7-inch) flatbreads
Leona's seeded crackers and cheese
Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Yields Serves 6 to 8
Farinata with pesto and ricotta
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 4 to 6
Socca with peppers, fennel and olives
Time 55 minutes
Yields Serves 2 to 4
Flame-roasted eggplant spread with lemon and garlic
Time 50 minutes
Yields Makes about 2 cups
Classic elotes
Time 15 minutes
Yields Serves 4
Beer nuts
Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Yields Serves 12 to 16
Baked chips with roasted garlic hummus
Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 12
Grilled shrimp cocktail
Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 12
