Open Faced Baguette With Fig Marmalade And Blue Cheese Food

OPEN-FACED BAGUETTE WITH FIG MARMALADE AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Slice baguette in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet cut-side up; drizzle cut sides with olive oil. Transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until tops are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and continue broiling until bottoms are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let bread cool to room temperature.
• Divide jam evenly between baguette halves and spread to cover. Top each half with cheese and serve.

FIG AND BLUE CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the baguette slices and toast on both sides until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Allow to cool, then spread with a little fig spread/preserves. Top with blue cheese chunks. Sprinkle on some basil.

PROSCIUTTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Smear 4 tablespoons butter over the bottom half of each baguette. Drizzle with oil. Divide prosciutto evenly between the baguettes. Place the top halves over the prosciutto. Cut each baguette crosswise into 4 pieces. Serve immediately.

OPEN-FACED BAGUETTE WITH PROSCIUTTO AND GREEN OLIVE TAPENADE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Slice baguette in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet cut side up; spread cut sides with herbed butter spread. Transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until tops are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and continue broiling until bottoms are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let bread cool to room temperature.
• Place bell peppers directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat or on a grill. Roast peppers, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil peppers on a baking sheet, turning, until skin has charred.) Transfer peppers to a large bowl, and cover immediately with plastic wrap. Set aside to steam, about 15 minutes. Peel peppers; discard skins. Remove stems, seeds, and ribs, and chop. Set aside.
• Place olives in the bowl of a small food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Add anchovies and pulse to combine. Scrape down sides of processor and add olive oil and peppers; pulse to combine.
• Divide olive mixture evenly between baguette halves, spreading to cover. Top each half with prosciutto slices and garnish with cheese; serve.

OPEN-FACED BAGUETTE WITH MUSHROOMS AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Slice baguette in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet cut up; spread cut sides with herbed butter spread. Transfer baking sheet to broiler and broil until tops are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and continue broiling until bottoms are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let bread cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with water and add lemon juice; set aside. Remove leaves from artichokes and halve lengthwise; transfer to bowl of acidulated water and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Peel and core soaked artichokes and transfer to a medium saucepan; cover with acidulated water and bring to a boil over high heat; cook for 8 minutes. Drain. Rinse artichokes and pat dry. Thickly slice artichokes lengthwise and drizzle with olive oil; set aside.
• Top cooled bread with duxelles, dividing evenly between each half. Top duxelles with artichoke slices, followed by sauteed mushrooms; serve.

HOMEMADE FIG MARMALADE

Steps:

• Place sugar and 1 teaspoon water in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar is caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully add vinegar and stir to combine. Add figs and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Let cook, without stirring, until figs begin to disintegrate, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Marmalade can be kept in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.

PROSCIUTTO AND FIG-SPREAD SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut 1 baguette or Italian bread into four 5-to-6-inch pieces; split each piece horizontally.
• Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons Fig Spread on all 8 halves; layer 4 halves with 2 slices prosciutto, 2 thin slices Asiago cheese, and 2 or 3 leaves of arugula. Top with remaining bread halves. Serve.