Apple Bacon Cheddar Crostini Food

HONEYCRISP APPLE, CHEDDAR, BACON AND DANDELION CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large saute pan. Lay the bacon strips in the pan and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook the bacon until browned and crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels. DO NOT ditch the bacon fat. Reserve it for finishing the crostini.
• Toast the bread slices lightly on both sides in the oven. Remove the toast from the oven and arrange a thin layer of the sliced apples on each toast. Top the apples with the cheese and return the toasts to the oven. Bake the crostini until the cheese starts to melt and get bubbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Place 2 bacon strips on each crostino and return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes.
• While the crostini are doing their final toast, ditch about half the bacon fat. Heat the remaining bacon fat in the pan and whisk in the vinegar. Turn the heat off and toss in the dandelion greens, season with salt and stir to coat the greens with the vinaigrette.
• Remove the crostini from the oven, cut the bread in half and then top with the wilted dandelion greens.

APPLE BACON CHEDDAR CROSTINI

Steps:

• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside. Reserve drippings in skillet.
• Cook apples and gingerroot in bacon drippings over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and tender. Stir in brown sugar, thyme and salt. Cook 1 minute; stir in apple juice. Cook 1 minute; remove from heat. Cool completely.
• Heat oven to 450°F. Place baguette slices in single layer on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until toasted. Turn slices over; brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until toasted.
• In skillet, add cheese and bacon to apples; toss. Place about 1 tablespoon apple mixture on each baguette slice. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.