Tips and Nutrition Notes for Party Appetizer Recipes

Mini Crab Cakes with Smoky Romesco Sauce

1. Old Bay seafood seasoning is the industry standard. It’s a mixture of 18 spices and herbs including celery salt, paprika, and red and black pepper. It’s found in the spice aisle at any supermarket. If you can’t find it or don’t like it, feel free to substitute any favorite seafood seasoning.
2. Save money and make your own breadcrumbs. Just place slices of whole-wheat bread in the food processor bowl and mix until crumbs form.
3. You may be tempted to skip the step of picking through the crabmeat to remove any cartilage and shell pieces, but it’s worth the effort. The last thing you want is one of your guests biting down on some shell. Spread crabmeat on a tray or plate and do a thorough search.
4. Crab, like all fish, provides essential omega-3 fatty acids to support optimal cognitive function and heart health plus lean protein for healthy bones and muscles.
5. Almonds boost heart health due to their healthy fat profile. And they’re rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant nutrient also found in the red bell peppers, to support immune system function and possibly slow the effects of aging.
6. Three cheers for canned tomatoes! Canned tomatoes – because they’re cooked – offer more phytonutrients, especially lycopene, to help reduce cancer risk.