Bruschetta with Garlic and Tomatoes
(Makes about 20-24 pieces)

Cheers to a New Year. I celebrated a blogiversary recently and I plan to blog about it while highlighting some healthy recipes from 2015.
Bruschetta is one of my favorite appetizers. The typical recipe and preparation of bruschetta is so simple in itself, I kick the ease factor up by using canned diced tomatoes (I use Hunt’s), and yeah I know cheating a little maybe? This recipe is delicious; the fresh basil along with the garlic in this recipe always gets me. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 (14.5oz can) Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 (14.5oz can) Fire Roasted Tomatoes
3 Tbsp Minced Garlic (I know it seems like a lot… I love garlic!)
1 bunch fresh Basil, chiffonade
Salt/Pepper to taste
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Fresh Baguette

Directions:
-Preheat oven 350 degrees to toast bread. Slice baguette and place on baking sheet.

Drizzle with olive oil (picture below). Bake for 10-15 minutes until bread is toasted.

-While bread is toasting. Drain tomatoes very well. Toss tomatoes and garlic in a bowl to combine, add salt/pepper to taste.
-To chiffonade basil: Remove basil leaves and rinse. Stack leaves about 10 then roll together tightly. With a sharp knife slice into ribbons.
-To Serve: Place tomatoes on toasted bread then top with basil pieces.

Notes:
-If I’m traveling on making ahead, I prepare the tomatoes and refrigerate ahead of time. Then toast the bread and chiffonade the basil last before serving up.
-I also try and use up as much of the basil as possible, so the tiny piece that you cannot roll up to chiffonade just chop with a very sharp knife.

We toasted to the New Year with Absinthe prepared traditionally with water and sugar cubes. I look forward to 2016 which is sure to be busier than last year as I continue with our family life and routine, work, college, cooking and blogging. Aside from this “the usual” our family is growing with Megan our eldest expecting in April. We also plan to publish a book this year (my husband’s book), so many things to toast to…Cheers!