Oven Roasted Tomato& Pesto Crostini

As you can probably tell from my Food Love & Recipes section of the blog, I love making appetizers/snacks/party food a lot (like bruschetta, hummus, herb twists, and baked apple chips). 

My favorite types of snacks are ones that include crunchy bread or crackers. Sorry friends that avoid carbs, I am the wrong person to invite to your party. Michael and I both hate raw tomato..and yet somehow there was a whole tomato in our fridge. How it got there is beyond me. Either way, I decided to roast those babies up and make a delicious finger food treat.

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What you'll need:

- 1 small loaf crunchy french bread (freshly baked from Traders Joes are the best)

- 1 medium-large tomato

- 1-2 ounces grated Parmesan  (or mozzarella) cheese

- 1-2 ounces basil pesto

- dried oregano

- olive oil

-balsamic vinegar

- salt & pepper to taste  

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Cut your tomatoes into medium slices (if you're having trouble doing this without smashing it, get your knives sharpened!). Cut your crostini at an angle and set aside.

Step 2: Place your tomatoes on an ungreased baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil & balsamic. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper before roasting in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. You'll know they're ready when they start to look really shriveled. 

Step 3: Spread a thin layer of pesto on your crostini and toast in the 350 degree oven for 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Place a few tomatoes on top of your pesto crostini and lightly cover with your cheese. Sprinkle a little pepper and dried oregano before putting back in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step: Let cool for a minute, and enjoy!

Nothing better than a crunchy, garlicky appetizer in my book. The oven roasted tomatoes end up being a little sweet, and the salty cheese is just the perfect balance. 

I will absolutely be making these again for a future summer party. Be warned dieting friends, be warned.

What's your favorite party snack?

...have a recipe I should try? send it to beautyandbeard@gmail.com

xo, lp