A crowd-pleasing appetizer

Crab melts are a great appetizer. They take just a few minutes to make. The base is a slice of toasted baguette. Cream cheese gives a rich, creamy spread. Fresh crab sits on top. A square of pepper jack melts over the whole thing. The result is hot, gooey, and full of flavor.

This is a perfect dish for parties or game day. Make 2 to 3 per person as a starter. Use real crab meat if you can. Dungeness or king crab work best. The pepper jack adds a small kick. Watch the broiler closely. Cheese can go from melted to burnt in seconds. Serve hot, right out of the oven.

Ingredients

• 1 baguette
• Vegetable cream cheese
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• Ready-to-eat crab meat
• Pepper Jack cheese, cut into small squares

Instructions

1. Slice the bread. Cut the baguette into ½-inch rounds. Lay on a baking sheet.
2. Spread. Cream cheese on one side of each slice.
3. Add garlic. Sprinkle a little minced garlic over the cream cheese.
4. Top with crab. A spoonful per slice.
5. Add cheese. One square of pepper jack on each.
6. Broil. Until the cheese melts and turns golden brown. Watch closely.
7. Serve. Hot.