Thrifty Bruschetta recipe

Well it’s Matt again. Our camera is in the shop getting repaired so excuse the images. Anyways – The last couple of days I have been thrown into the kitchen. Not so much by Sarah’s doing, really just because! The other day I did the Artichoke cooking, and last night I made Apple Glazed Pork with white long grain rice and a Bruschetta concoction.

The Bruschetta was my own little recipe. I was watching the Food Network and was thinking of ways to use similar foods but in a more thrifty way. And after all of the comments on the Artichoke post, I thought I would post another recipe to use up items that we all get in  our Bountiful Baskets, or in the garden or other frequent coupon deals.

So to make a thrifty Bruschetta, you start with some bread. Usually a day old or two French, Italian, or smaller size hard crusted bread will work. Like Baguettes.

photo from Wikipedia

Cut it into thin slices about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Some will rub garlic onto the bread before applying the next step. If you have it and like it – then use it. Next generously pour Olive Oil onto the bread. You could probably get by with some vegetable oil if that is all you have.

Throw it on a middle rack and turn the oven to broil.

Stand by and watch this closely. You only want to lightly crust the edges to a light brown.

Take out the bread, Spread a heavy amount of Cream cheese onto the top of each slice. Normally you would use a nice Mozzarella. Before I have even made them with Brie  cheese. Brie is a French cheese and is really soft and creamy. But the Cream Cheese will work too and once cooked you really won’t know the difference.

Next slice some of the tomatoes we have been getting in the Bountiful Baskets, or now that summer is coming and our gardens will be full of tomatoes, use them. Slice them about an 1/8 or 1/4 inch thick. Place them on top of the cheese. Normally you would put the sliced mozzarella on top but since you can’t slice cream cheese to well, switch it up with tomatoes on top. Sprinkle some salt and pepper or even Italian seasoning.

Next place them back into the oven on broil again. Stand by and watch. It will go quick. Normally thicker cheese takes longer to melt, but Cream Cheese melts real quick!

Once you start to see the edges of the cheese bubble, take them out and enjoy!

Comments are closed.