I put out a poll on Instagram stories over the weekend to let you, my audience, determine what I would make for the blog this week. I gave four options, main, salad, snack, or brunch.
Well the people have spoken and “snack” eked out “salad” for the people’s choice award this week.
Your wish is my command, so here we have a little Strawberry Basil Crostini with goat cheese and a drizzle of aged balsamic. This might be the easiest recipe I’ve posted to date, it comes together in minutes and requires zero culinary talent – ideal for impromptu summer entertaining.
Has anyone else noticed that the strawberries this season are totally out of this world delicious? I picked up two pounds of strawberries at my local grocery store last weekend for $7 and was astonished to discover how incredibly sweet and juicy they were. We’ve all suffered the misfortune of watery, flavourless berries before, but this year, our local strawberries are truly nature’s candy.
Getting out to pick my own strawberries is one of those summer to-do list items that I never seem to get around to. The idea of it seems totally idyllic. In my fantasy, I’m wearing a blue gingham dress and a straw hat, gracefully kneeling and picking the sweetest of berries, gingerly placing them into my straw basket. Skipping between the rows of strawberry bushes to pay for my pickings and then baking them into a delicious pie.
In reality, it’s probably more likely that I would look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame crouching in the dirt, end up with a sunburn, be surrounded by screaming children pelting each other with berries and end up putting more berries in my mouth than my basket.
I try to make a list of things to do in the summer, for the few short months of nice weather, and rarely end up crossing off more than half of the items. Other failed to-dos include: going to the drive-in, taking in some theatre under the stars with Shakespeare in the park, make preserves, and getting in a round of golf.
Realizing that it’s August next week, I’m going to really dedicate myself to trying to do some of those summer bucket list items before September rolls around. What’s on your summer activity list? Post in the comments below to give me some much needed inspiration.
Strawberry Basil Crostini
- ½ baguette sliced ½ inch thick, 12-16 slices
- ½ cup olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 70 g goat cheese 2.5 oz
- 1 lb strawberries thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp fresh basil finely chopped
- 3 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange baguette slices on a large rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
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Bake, turning crostini over halfway through, until golden, 6 minutes. Let cool partially on baking sheets.
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Once crostini are cool enough to handle, smear one side of the crostini with goat cheese. Top with 2-3 slices of strawberry, sprinkle with chopped basil, and lightly drizzle with aged balsamic. Serve warm or at room temperature.
These are truly delicious and absolutely, those strawberries were some of the most delicious I’ve ever eaten! Thank you for whipping them up for us!