Bruschetta with Goat Cheese

Warning!  This is my absolute favorite appetizer!  Hmmm maybe one of the top 5.  I honestly love Italian food.  I cant get enough of pastas, different sauces, not to mention Tiramisu! That's not just because I'm married an Italian stallion either!  Thankfully, I like trying to cook it, and that my family loves eating it!  This is another one of my easy recipes, noticing a trend in the simple and easy department?  This could be a good one to make for the Thanksgiving holiday or just a everyday dinner starter. 

This isn't your Nona's (grandma) traditional bruschetta.  That recipe wouldn't normally call for goat cheese, but since I love it so much I add it in.  It makes such a difference too.  Not everyone likes goat cheese, it has a creamy, tangy, wonderful flavor.  The cheese gets warmed up since its toasted with the tomato and basil on top of a sliced baguette.  So delicious! If you want to really spice it up drizzle some Balsamic vinegar on at the end.

What I used:

2 Roma tomatoes
6 large basil leaves
1 Tbspn extra virgin olive oil
1/2 log or crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 baguette

You want to pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Slice your bread or buy it pre-sliced.  Lightly drizzle bread with olive oil, place on cookie sheet and toast.  I do mine for about 5 mins. Then take it out. Set aside. 
Dice your tomato, take your basil leaves and slice thinly.  Add your Tbspn of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and mix all your ingredients together.  Slice or crumble off a chunk of goat cheese and spread onto bread.  Then spoon on your tomato, basil mix.  Place them on cookie sheet and put back into oven for about 8 minutes.  Don't let the bread burn.  Enjoy them while they're still warm and toasty!
This makes about 9 bruschetta, so double it up to use the entire baguette.

Hope you enjoy this simple Italian dish.  Much love, Linzi