A good appetizer can be hard to find. We get tired of dips. And creating tiny, individual, stuffed somethings is time-consuming. We're always looking for a dish that's easy and crowd-pleasing, and we usually turn to this combination...

It started with a friend who recommended spreading a baguette with fig jam, then layering on slices of prosciutto, then brie, and running the whole thing under the broiler for a few minutes. The combination of sweet, salty, and creamy is sure-fire success, trust us, and you can mix up the components in dozens of different ways.

We've done apricot jam, ham, and cheddar, which was delicious. Paper-thin slices of ham or prosciutto work best for us, and eliminate a step of cooking, but some leftover pork tenderloin would be nice (maybe paired with fig jam and some gorgonzola).

One tip, if you're using a baguette: Layer the ingredients over the entire baguette half, then slice into individual portions once it comes out of the oven. It's much easier than doling out bits of torn prosciutto on many small pieces.

Another tip: This combination is good room temperature, without melting the cheese under the broiler—especially if you're using a hard cheese like parmesan.

Anyone else have a good recipe for this type of appetizer?

Related: Recipe: Peach, Plum, and Ginger Jam

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella; Flickr members sniffette and chez loulou, licensed under Creative Commons)