Olive Crostini

More About This Recipe

• Why serve expensive frozen mini quiches or greasy egg rolls, when you can offer your last-minute (ahem—unexpected) guests insanely easy, delicious and beautiful crostini?
  
  Just keep a baguette in your freezer and some soft cheese in your fridge for a quick snack or appetizer. That way when those random neighbors, quirky friends or sorry-we-forgot-to-call-first in-laws show up on your door, ready to be fed and entertained, you can swing into action.
  
  First, prepare the basic crostini.
  
  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice a fresh baguette or baked Pillsbury crusty French loaf  into 3/4-inch slices, on the bias. Arrange slices on an ungreased baking sheet and drizzle generously with olive oil. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or just until lightly toasted.
  
  Next, spread each slice with cheese.
  
  Use a butter knife or silicone spatula to spread each slice of baguette with a tablespoon of ricotta, soft goat cheese or cream cheese.
  
  Finally, garnish each crostini.
  
  Here’s where you get to be creative. Feel free to make a batch of just one type of crostini, or mix it up. Variety makes it look like you worked extra-hard!
  
  Some suggested crostini toppings:
  
  thinly sliced roasted red peppers
  
  sliced, pitted olives (any kind)
  
  thin slices of green jalapeño and a drizzle of honey.
  
  thinly sliced basil and sundried tomatoes
  
  slices of smoked salmon, a few capers and a sprig of dill
  
  thin slices of prosciutto and fresh figs
  
  cooked pieces of bacon and fresh tarragon
  
  slices of ripe avocado and chopped cilantro
  
  halved slices of salami or pepperoni
  
  prepared pesto and halved cherry tomatoes
  
  Check out these other easy crostini recipes:
  
  Olive Crostini
  
  Feta and Tomato Crostini
  
  Garlic Cream Cheese Crostini
  
  Got a personal crostini favorite? I'd love to hear it!