Mixed Grilled Cheese And Oven Dried Tomato Crostini Food

TOMATO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan or preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread on grill or on a baking sheet in the oven; toast until golden on both sides, turning once. Transfer to a serving platter, and lightly brush one side of each slice with oil.
• Roughly chop or slice tomatoes, and place in a large bowl. Add the salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Add basil and chervil, and drizzle with the oil and vinegar. Gently toss again. To serve, spoon tomato mixture over bread, and garnish with basil sprigs.

TOMATO CROSTINI WITH WHIPPED FETA

Steps:

• For the whipped feta, place the feta and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until the cheeses are mixed. Add 1/3 cup of the olive oil, the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and process until smooth.
• For the tomatoes, up to an hour before you're serving, combine the shallots, garlic, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the tomatoes, stir gently, and set aside for 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and taste for seasonings.
• To assemble the crostini, spread each slice of bread with a generous amount of whipped feta. With a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes on top. Put the crostini on plates and scatter with the pine nuts. Sprinkle with extra basil and serve.

MIXED TOMATO SALSA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat a broiler, oven or grill to medium-high heat.
• Toast the bread until lightly golden brown on both sides-the bread should be crisp but still tender on the inside, not brittle. Remove and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt.
• Combine the tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, honey and oregano in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss in the queso fresco. Let the relish sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving. Top the bread with the relish and serve.

THREE CHEESE CROSTINI APPETIZER

Steps:

• Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches from the broiler element. Preheat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• In a small bowl gently toss the tomatoes, shallots, 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and vinegar together. Spread out the mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Set the baking sheet on a rack under the broiler element. Broil until the tomatoes begin to show a few black spots, about 4 minutes with oven door closed. Turn the mixture, using a spatula, and broil 3 minutes longer with the oven door closed. Remove from the oven and transfer the mixture with a slotted spoon to a small bowl; set the bowl aside until needed. Retain the broiler heat on high.
• While the tomatoes are broiling, combine the ricotta, blue cheese, pesto, 1/2 teaspoon salt, lemon juice and lemon peel in a medium bowl.
• Arrange the baguette slices on a large baking sheet and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Put the baking sheet on the rack under the broiler element and broil until golden, about 1 minute or so per side, watching carefully. Remove from oven.
• To assemble, season the tomato mixture with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and peppercorns, then stir in the basil. Spread some of the ricotta mixture over each crostini. Top with the tomato/onion mixture, then sprinkle with shredded cheese, dividing all the ingredients equally among the slices. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.

GOAT CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Slice the baguette into 1/4 thick slices.
• Brush the slices lightly with the olive oil.
• Place on a baking sheet and toast in a 425 oven until browned.
• Cool completely.
• Combine the sundried tomatoes, oil and goat cheese in a food processor and puree until very smooth. There should not be any lumps.
• On each crostini place a small basil leaf, or half a larger leaf.
• Spread the goat cheese mixture on the crostini, covering half way up the basil leaf.
• Arrange on a platter and garnish platter with additional basil.