a weekend appetizer

I'll leave y'all for the week with an easy appetizer recipe! For any of you headed to a friends house this weekend for dinner or plan on entertaining at your own home, I promise you an easy hit! I get embarrassed when people ask for the recipe because it is so easy, but it never fails to be a crowd pleaser! 

Tomato & Ricotta Bruschetta:

1 loaf of holey/chewy bread

2 cups fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped

3/4 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and torn/chopped 

1 clove of garlic, sliced in half

4 T of good olive oil, plus some to drizzle

2 T good balsamic vinegar 

big pinch of salt

a few grinds of black pepper

1 cup fresh ricotta cheese 

Combine tomatoes, basil, olive oil, vinegar, and salt & pepper in a bowl. Mix and set aside for as long as you want to/can. I set aside for at least one hour. But if you're pressed for time, mix and go!

Slice bread and place on a baking sheet. Toast on 350 degrees for 10 minutes.. or until it looks right for your taste. If you want to get fancy, grill the bread.

Rub the toasted bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Top with a heaping spoon of ricotta. Sprinkle salt, pepper and olive oil on top of ricotta. 

Top with tomato and basil mixture! 

Serve!

And enjoy! 

Photography :: Kathryn McCrary