Football season is in full swing, and many of us will spend hours in front of the television, often with friends. Here are some hearty snacks you can serve with very little preparation time.

PICK A DIP, A BALL OR A STICK: *None of these appetizers takes more than a few minutes to make if you keep the ingredients on hand.

Taquitos are always a hit. Pair them with fresh salsa or guacamole from the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Taquitos are frozen so you can always have these handy. I prefer the HEB Classic selection brand (found at Central Market) because they are smaller and don't need to be cut in half.

Meatballs are another frozen item to keep on hand. There are many varieties in most grocery stores. I used the Meals Made Simple brand, about 24 to a package, and Prego traditional Italian sauce.

The only thing you need to make is an artichoke dip. The ingredients are simple and you can always have these on hand for a quick appetizer.

The original recipe calls for canned artichokes, Parmesan cheese and mayonnaise. I have added green chiles and sun-dried tomatoes for flavor and color, reduced the amount of mayonnaise and added some 1/3 -less-fat cream cheese.

For the taquitos (pictured):* Place taquitos on a cookie sheet and spray with an olive oil cooking spray. Bake as directed and serve with salsa or guacamole (or both).

For the meatballs (pictured):* Place frozen meatballs on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in a preheated 375 F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, then brown under the broiler for 4 or 5 minutes. Heat the sauce in a saucepan and serve the meatballs on or in the sauce, with toothpicks.