Peppered Crostini Food

CROSTINI

Steps:

• Set the oven to broil at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, butter and garlic. Set over medium heat, and cook until butter has melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Dip each slice of bread into the garlic mixture, turning to coat each side. Place Parmesan cheese on a plate. Press one side of each piece of bread into the cheese, and place cheese side up on a baking sheet.
• Broil on the middle rack of the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown.

BEEF CROSTINI WITH RED PEPPER MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy large baking sheets. Drizzle 3 tablespoons oil over the bread slices. Bake until the crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.
• Blend the bell peppers and mayonnaise in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Season the bell pepper mayonnaise, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate.
• Tie the beef with kitchen string to help maintain its shape. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add the beef to the skillet and cook until brown and cooked to desired doneness, about 8 minutes for rare. Freeze the beef until it is just frozen (this will make it easier to slice), about 3 hours. Using a large sharp carving knife, cut the beef into thin slices.
• Spread the bell pepper mayonnaise over the crostini and top with the sliced beef. Arrange the crostini on a platter. Scatter over the capers, sprinkle with the coarse sea salt, and serve.
• Do-Ahead Tip: The bell pepper mayonnaise and sliced beef can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.
• Alternative: If desired, the beef tenderloin can be substituted with 1 pound freshly sliced roast beef. Since the roast beef is already cooked and can be used as is, it makes a great time-saving alternative.

SWEET PEPPER CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush the oil over the bread slices. Bake until pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Arrange the bell pepper strips atop the bread. Sprinkle with the cheese. Broil until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

SWEET RED PEPPER CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush the bread with oil and bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. (The crostini can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cool, then store airtight at room temperature. Return the crostini to a baking sheet before proceeding.)
• Preheat the broiler. Arrange the bell pepper strips atop the crostini and sprinkle with the cheese. Broil until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer the crostini to a platter and serve immediately.

PEPPERED BEEF AND CARAMELIZED ONION CROSTINI WITH A HORSERADISH

Steps:

• Lets start with all the components and make them one at a time.
• Horseradish Cream -- Just mix the sour cream, prepared horseradish (not creamy), vinegar, and season with a little salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use. The chives should be added right before serving.
• Onions -- To a medium to large sauce pan, add the butter and olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the onions and slowly begin to caramelize them - don't rush this. It will take a good thirty minutes, but it isn't hard. After 5 minutes add a pinch of salt and sugar and continue to stir now and then. After 15 minutes the moisture (water) from the onions will start to evaporate and the onions begin to caramelize. Once they get golden brown, remove, let cool and refrigerate until you are ready to use them. They can be reheated in the microwave in just a minute when you are ready to make the crostini.
• Garlic Oil -- In a small sauce pan on medium heat, add the oil and garlic. Cook for just a minute on medium and then reduce to medium low and simmer for about 20 minutes until the garlic is golden brown. Remove the garlic and you have wonderful garlic oil. You can always buy a bottle which is expensive, and not nearly as good.
• Beef -- Add the beef broth and marsala to a small bowl to a small pan and heat until warm. Add in the beef slices and cook just a minute or two until the beef is warm. You don't want to over cook it, it doesn't take long.
• Crostini -- Slice and grill or broil just until golden brown on each side. Remove and brush each slice with some of the garlic oil.
• Onions -- As the bread is toasting and the beef warming up - heat up your onions for just 1 minute in the microwave, they are all done you just want them warm.
• Horseradish Cream -- Don't forget to stir in the chives right before you are ready to serve.
• Toppings -- Top each garlic crostini with some of the warmed caramelized onions, then a slice or two of beef, then a little of the horseradish cream.
• ENJOY!

OLIVE AND ROASTED PEPPER CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare baking sheet by spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
• Slice baguette and brush rounds with olive oil. Sprinkle the next 4 ingredients over the rounds and place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes until the edges of the breads are crunch and the topping is hot.
• Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

ROASTED RED PEPPER PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350°F.
• Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush lightly on both sides with the 1/4 cup olive oil.
• Lightly toast both sides of bread in oven.
• While the crostini are still warm, rub the top of each one with 1 of the garlic cloves. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the red peppers, the remaining garlic clove, the almonds, cheese, 3 Tbs. of the parsley, the lemon juice, the 2 teaspoons olive oil and the cayenne pepper. Pulse until a coarse puree forms. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place the crostini in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Spread about 2 teaspoons of the goat cheese on each crostini.
• Bake until the cheese is slightly soft and the crostini are warm, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter and top each with about 1 Tbs. of the red pepper pesto.
• Sprinkle with the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley.

PEPPERED CROSTINI

Steps:

• Place bread slices in a single layer on a shallow baking pan.
• Lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Generously grind black pepper over the bread and add a few grinds of sea salt to taste. Enjoy!
• Bake at 350ºF for 12-15 minutes until crisp and lightly browned.