Oscar entertaining made easy? It's formulaic!

Each spread recipe makes enough to top 24 canapes. If you opt to use 24 of each canape base (for a total of 96 canapes), supplement the three spreads below with a purchased choice, such as hummus, tzatziki or flavored cream cheese.

Start to finish: 30 minutes

BASES:

24 multigrain crackers

24 thin slices of seedless cucumber

24 toasted baguette slices

24 purchased phyllo cups (found in the grocer's freezer section)

SPREADS:

• Garlic-herb cream cheese

4 ounces softened cream cheese

2 tablespoons milk

Pinch of salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

• In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and milk until smooth. Stir in the salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and garlic.

• Zesty barbecue spread

3 tablespoons barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons spicy red pepper jelly

¼ cup sour cream

Splash of hot sauce

• In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, red pepper jelly, sour cream and hot sauce.

• Orange sweet potato spread

1 medium sweet potato, microwaved until fork-tender

2 tablespoons orange marmalade

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

• Peel the sweet potato, then place it in a medium bowl and mash it. Stir in the orange marmalade and vinegar, then season with salt and pepper.

TOPPERS:

Small cooked and peeled shrimp

Shredded cooked chicken

Halved cherry tomatoes

Crabmeat

Small wedges of manchego cheese

GARNISHES:

Shaved Parmesan cheese

Sliced green and black olives

Sliced hot peppers (such as piri piri or Peppadew)

Sliced scallions

• To assemble the canapes, arrange the bases on a large serving tray. Top each with a small dollop of one of the spreads. Press one of the topping choices into the spread, then finish each with a garnish.