Double Tomato Bruschetta (Pronounced brew-skett-ah)

Serves 8

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

Zowee!  These little appetizers will be enough excuse to throw a party for your special friends.  These are full of summer’s best flavors in one bite, crispy on the bottom, tangy in the middle and gooey on the top.  You can slice the baguette and make the topping in advance, and then when your guests arrive, assemble the bruschetta and broil. Be sure to get your ingredients from Lost River Market & Deli. You can also find fresh basil and tomatoes at the Orange County HomeGrown Farmer Markets.

Ingredients

6 fresh Roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped (I used 3 large tomatoes and squeezed out the seeds.)

½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil (I used sun-dried tomatoes that were packed without oil.)

3 cloves minced garlic

¼ cup olive oil

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

¼ cup fresh basil, stems removed (I used ½ cup.)

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 French baguette (I used 2 baguettes.)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Olive oil, Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, 1 clove of garlic for flavoring baguette

Directions

Preheat the oven on broiler setting.

In a large bowl, combine the fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes. (I made this mixture about 2 hours in advance.)

Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch diagonal slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Brush each slice with a bit of olive oil.

Broil on one side for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown. Using a clove of fresh garlic, rub each slice of toasted baguette.  Sprinkle with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.  Flip the baguette slices over to the other side.

Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. (Use a slotted spoon so that the extra liquid is strained, otherwise the bruschetta will be soggy.) Top the slices with mozzarella cheese. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 215 Total Fat: 8.9g Cholesterol: 12mg Sodium: 426mg Total Carbs: 24.8g Dietary Fiber: 1.6g Protein: 9.6g