Here’s a real quick, yet tasty appetizer when you’re short on time. Start with Gilbert’s Caprese Chicken Sausage with mozzarella, basil and sun-dried tomatoes, available at Costco or online. They honestly burst with the fresh flavors of an Italian summer! They are all-natural, gluten-free sausages made from chickens that were not raised with antibiotics. Each link is individually wrapped so you can use as few, or as many, as you need.

Even though they are pre-cooked, I did brown the diagonally sliced pieces for a few minutes on each side to enhance the flavors. Then simply build a small stack with the meat at the bottom, followed by a thin slice of Manchego cheese, a small grape tomato and then topped with a pitted kalamata olive half and speared with a decorative toothpick.

Each sausage will cut down into five or six pieces. When I made these it was for only four people, so using three links I ended up with 15 small appetizers. Your welcome!

Manchego Cheese Canapés with Olives and Piquillo Peppers

Or as the Spanish say “QUESO MANCHEGO con ACEITUNAS y PIQUILLOS ”

Another tried and true appetizer we like to make, not only because everyone loves them, but because there is no cooking involved, they only take a few minutes to assemble, and they are easily transported.