cherry crostini maria provenzano

cherry crostini maria provenzano

Everything just seems to be better on a piece of bread!

I have been making a lot of crostini this summer because it gives me one more reason to use the grill. Grilled bread is a perfect blank slate to create really fun flavor combinations. I was experimenting with different ingredients on my recent trip to Michigan, and since it is the “Cherry Capitol” I had to try to make a cherry inspired crostini. I love fresh cherries, and they can be used in this recipe, but since dried cherries are more accessible throughout the country I thought I would share a Michigan-themed recipe that anyone can make.

The first step to good crostini is good bread. Try to find a good quality, fresh baguette. Then of course, the cheese! I use goat cheese in a number of recipes for a number of reasons, but mostly because the flavor is creamy, tangy, and smooth. Top the cheese off with tart, slightly sweet, chewy, dried cherries. Add a drizzle of fresh, local honey for a touch of sweetness. Local honey is a really fun and interesting way to experience a ‘place’, because the honey-producing bees carry the flavors of the local land and flowers. If you find local honey in Northern Michigan it will taste completely different than the local honey in Mid-Michigan. Sprinkle some nutty, toasted pine nuts over the bread, and top it off with chopped parsley for a freshly herbaceous finish.

It is a fun, summery, Michigan-inspired crostini!

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

pesto crostini

crostini

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

cherry crostini

Goat Cheese, Cherry, and Honey Crostini

Author:

Maria Provenzano

Serves:

12-15

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette

  • 4-6 ounces goat cheese; room temperature

  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

  • 1/2 cup dried cherries

  • 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley

  • honey; to drizzle over the top

Instructions

  1. *Cut the baguette into about 1/2 inch slices, preferably on an angle to make larger pieces

  2. *Brush both sides of each piece of bread with olive oil

  3. *Place on a heated grill; grill each side until lightly golden

  4. *These can also be made in the oven by placing the olive oil coated bread on a baking sheet, and place under the broiler until lightly golden; then flip to the other side to broil; keep an eye out because this happens quickly

  5. *Allow the bread to cool enough to touch

  6. *Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat; toss the pine nuts around the pan until lightly golden, toasted, and fragrant; allow to cool

  7. *Spread each slice of toasted bread with as much goat cheese as you like

  8. *Top each piece with some dried cherries and pine nuts

  9. *Drizzle a little honey over each piece

  10. *Sprinkle a little of the freshly chopped parsley over each piece as well

  11. *Serve!