Melon Berry Crostini Recipe

Hey Busy Being Jennifer fans! Christine here from Lattes, Life & Luggage. I’m excited to finally take my monthly recipe from comforting to refreshing and light. We’ve entered summer in the Chicago area, minus a few cool days, and gone are the days of heavy dishes and comforting meals. We’re staying off the heat as much as possible and keeping things simple. Kind of like the recipe I have for you today. This Melon Berry Crostini is a fantastic appetizer to put together in a pinch and inexpensive as well as incredibly tasty.

I have always loved the combination of honey and goat cheese. It acts as the “glue” for this crostini and adds a nice tang with a touch of sweetness. Their flavors compliment the fruit as well making this an all-around freaking fantastic appetizer. Crostini are my favorite bites to put together for parties and gatherings. They’re simple and versatile. Toast slices of a French baguette and top them with whatever you can think of and voila! Crostini. Make lots of one kind or make a little bit of several recipes. They’re also elegant which is fantastic when you’re hosting a dinner party and running out of time. I happen to think a garnish of chopped fresh mint would be a perfect addition but my grandmother literally said, “Don’t ruin them,” when I was about to. If you try that, let me know!

A few quick tricks. When toasting the bread, I like to use a pastry brush to coat one side of the bread with olive oil. You could just drizzle but I find using a pastry brush gives a more even toasting effect. Place the toasts on tin foil after spreading goat cheese over them. The honey gets really messy and sticky. Using tin foil will make it easy to move them to a plate when you’re done and the messiness from the drizzle goes straight to the garbage. It’s also a great way to keep from making an extra dish to wash. Finally, slice the fruit thin rather than in chunks. It makes it easier to eat which everyone will be thankful for.

MELON BERRY CROSTINI
Ingredients:
1 French Baguette, sliced into 1.5″ toasts
1/4 cup Olive Oil
4 ounces Goat Cheese
1/4 cup Honey
1/2 cup Canteloupe, sliced
1/2 cup Strawberries, quartered then halved (slice the strawberry quarters in half)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly brush the baguette slices with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet, oil side up, and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden and toasted. Remove from the oven and let cool enough to handle.

2. Spread about teaspoon or so of goat cheese onto the toasts and set on a sheet of tin foil. Drizzle honey over each of the toasts generously. Place one slice of canteloupe and 2-3 strawberries on each toast. Serve.

Doesn’t this Melon Berry Crostini look amazing! Its the perfect appetizer for summer entertaining or girls night!

What are some of your favorite appetizers to serve at summer parties?