Menu: Entertain using takeout (Real Simple)

Bruschetta:

Start with garlic bread (take out), Slather with marinara or pesto, Top with goat cheese or mozzarella, marinated pepper, or oil packed sundried tomato, Toast in oven.

Guac stuffed cherry tomatoes:

Start with guacamole (take out), Pint cherry tomatoes, Cut off tomato tops and scoop out seeds. Level off bottoms. Fill with guac and top with a cilantro leaf.

Taco Casserole:

Use various soft-shell tacos (take out), Layer them in a baking dish. Top with salsa and grated queso fresco or jack cheese and bake until bubbly. Serve with guac on the side.

Chicken/Shrimp Boat Appetizers

Start with favorite Chinese stir fry, Mound spoonfuls into the center of Boston lettuce leaves., Top with chopped nuts or scallion slices

Pizza Hors D'oeuvres:

Start with large cheese pizza, unsliced, Cut out mini circles with biscuit cutter, avoiding the crust.

Heat rounds at 400 for 5 mins. Top with olives, marinated mushrooms, chopped prosciutto, anchovy fillet, basil, flat parsley, thyme or oregano.

see www.realsimple.com/takeout