Lets start with something super simple, a great snack for the evening after work, or as an appetizer. It takes all of about 15 minutes to do and needs hardly any prep.
Serves : 2
Time : 15 min
Stuff needed:
8 pieces Crusty Bread sliced (You can even use Ritz crackers if you don't have or want bread!)
1/2 cup Mozarella cheese
( Prefer the ball-o-cheese fresh soft mozarella you get from grocery stores (Safeway, whole foods etc, Galbani makes one thats decent), but if you only have shredded, go for it
2 Fresh Medium tomatoes or a dozen cherry tomatoes
(In order of preference, Sweet cherry tomatoes, Campari, Roma, ideally you want to use something like the Sweet 100 style tomato that has a good burst of tanginess and sweetness and not something you make sauce or soup out of)
Fresh Basil
You can even use dried if you don't have access to fresh Basil, or experiment with fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Fresh ground Black pepper ((get a peppermill, its worth it!))
1. Pre-heat Oven or Toaster Oven to 350 F for about 10 min
2. Cut Cherry tomatoes in halves, <OR> larger tomatoes into similar small sized pieces
3. Take a small mixing bowl, mix together chopped tomatoes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, just enough to fully cover the tomatoes, you don't want a pool of oil at the bottom. Add salt+fresh ground pepper .
4. If you have the ball of mozzarella, cut it into thin slices and dry it out a bit using a muslin cloth or napkin, then press slightly with fingers to flatten the cheese, you don't want a slab of cheese on the cracker. If you only have Shredded, it makes life a little easier, just sprinkle a layer on top
5. place cheese on top of cracker, make sure they stay within the edges by atleast a few mm
6. with a small spoon or by hand, put as much of the tomato mix on top as you can, try not to get too much oil/vinegar on, whatever is mixed onto the tomatoes is enough
7. spray non stick spray on cookie sheet (VERY IMPORTANT, otherwise you will have a mess)
8. place in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese melts
9. Use a thin Spatula to gently lift the crackers off, they will be fragile, so be gentle.
10. Roll basil leaves, then chop with a sharp knife, into threads. Or sprinkle dried basil.
Goes great with a light red wine like a Fruit forward Pinot Noir
Enjoy
Serves : 2
Time : 15 min
Stuff needed:
8 pieces Crusty Bread sliced (You can even use Ritz crackers if you don't have or want bread!)
1/2 cup Mozarella cheese
( Prefer the ball-o-cheese fresh soft mozarella you get from grocery stores (Safeway, whole foods etc, Galbani makes one thats decent), but if you only have shredded, go for it
2 Fresh Medium tomatoes or a dozen cherry tomatoes
(In order of preference, Sweet cherry tomatoes, Campari, Roma, ideally you want to use something like the Sweet 100 style tomato that has a good burst of tanginess and sweetness and not something you make sauce or soup out of)
Fresh Basil
You can even use dried if you don't have access to fresh Basil, or experiment with fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Fresh ground Black pepper ((get a peppermill, its worth it!))
1. Pre-heat Oven or Toaster Oven to 350 F for about 10 min
2. Cut Cherry tomatoes in halves, <OR> larger tomatoes into similar small sized pieces
3. Take a small mixing bowl, mix together chopped tomatoes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, just enough to fully cover the tomatoes, you don't want a pool of oil at the bottom. Add salt+fresh ground pepper .
4. If you have the ball of mozzarella, cut it into thin slices and dry it out a bit using a muslin cloth or napkin, then press slightly with fingers to flatten the cheese, you don't want a slab of cheese on the cracker. If you only have Shredded, it makes life a little easier, just sprinkle a layer on top
5. place cheese on top of cracker, make sure they stay within the edges by atleast a few mm
6. with a small spoon or by hand, put as much of the tomato mix on top as you can, try not to get too much oil/vinegar on, whatever is mixed onto the tomatoes is enough
7. spray non stick spray on cookie sheet (VERY IMPORTANT, otherwise you will have a mess)
8. place in oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese melts
9. Use a thin Spatula to gently lift the crackers off, they will be fragile, so be gentle.
10. Roll basil leaves, then chop with a sharp knife, into threads. Or sprinkle dried basil.
Goes great with a light red wine like a Fruit forward Pinot Noir
Enjoy
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