Whether you're hosting a casual last-minute get-together or have an ambitious main dish in the works, you can't lose with these simple yet satisfying appetizers. They're all ready in 15 minutes or less.

Few appetizers are as irresistible as warm, creamy Brie cheese. Rather than wait for the oven to heat up, simply microwave the Brie for 1 minute. Once it's melted, serve the Brie with a platter of fruit and Melba toasts and watch how quickly it disappears.

Giada combines peas, garlic and grated Parmesan in her food processor to create a simple, spreadable pesto for crusty grilled baguette slices. Using defrosted frozen peas will save time without sacrificing flavor.

The key to bruschetta's signature crunchy texture is to char the baguette slices under the broiler or on the grill. Rachael rubs the toasts with garlic before piling on the fresh tomato-basil topping.