Goat Cheese Bruschetta Bites Recipe

Makes about 24 bites

Ingredients

• 1 fresh baguette, sliced into half-inch slices
• 1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained of juice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 2 tbsp. olive oil (plus more for brushing)
• 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp. salt
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 4 oz. soft goat cheese

Directions

1. Preheat your broiler to high.
2. Place your baguette slices on a cookie sheet. Brush them liberally with olive oil and set aside.
3. Put the drained diced tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Stir well to combine.
4. Spoon a small amount of topping on each baguette slice, then place under the broiler for two minutes.
5. After two minutes, carefully remove the bruschetta from the oven and dot a small amount of goat cheese on each slice.
6. Place the bruschetta back under the broiler for a minute or two, or until the goat cheese begins to melt and the bread looks toasty. Watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!
7. Serve immediately.

Helpful Tools and Tips

• Before placing your baguette slices on the cookie sheet, try lining it with a silicone plastic baking mat. These nonstick mats stand up to the heat of the oven and allow baked goods to slide right off when they’re done, reducing the need for added fats or oils.
• When it’s time to mix your ingredients together, try using a plastic mixing bowl. Plastic bowls are an indispensable kitchen tool because of their versatility. Plus, plastics are extremely lightweight and durable, so they’re easy to handle as you prepare meals, and you don’t have to worry about breakage. Best of all, these products come in a variety of fun colors to brighten up any kitchen!
• Here’s a great trick for working with soft cheeses: use scissors to cut off one corner of a plastic zipper bag, and place the cheese inside the bag. Then simply squeeze the cheese through the small hole you’ve cut, as if frosting a cake. Because plastics are so versatile, I love coming up with all sorts of creative uses for them in the kitchen!