Everything just seems to be better on a piece of bread!

I have been making a lot of crostini this summer because it gives me one more reason to use the grill. Grilled bread is a perfect blank slate to create really fun flavor combinations. I was experimenting with different ingredients on my recent trip to Michigan, and since it is the “Cherry Capitol” I had to try to make a cherry inspired crostini. I love fresh cherries, and they can be used in this recipe, but since dried cherries are more accessible throughout the country I thought I would share a Michigan-themed recipe that anyone can make.

The first step to good crostini is good bread. Try to find a good quality, fresh baguette. Then of course, the cheese! I use goat cheese in a number of recipes for a number of reasons, but mostly because the flavor is creamy, tangy, and smooth. Top the cheese off with tart, slightly sweet, chewy, dried cherries. Add a drizzle of fresh, local honey for a touch of sweetness. Local honey is a really fun and interesting way to experience a ‘place’, because the honey-producing bees carry the flavors of the local land and flowers. If you find local honey in Northern Michigan it will taste completely different than the local honey in Mid-Michigan. Sprinkle some nutty, toasted pine nuts over the bread, and top it off with chopped parsley for a freshly herbaceous finish.

It is a fun, summery, Michigan-inspired crostini!

Goat Cheese, Cherry, and Honey Crostini

Author:

Maria Provenzano

Serves:

12-15

Ingredients

1 baguette
4-6 ounces goat cheese; room temperature
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 cup dried cherries
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
honey; to drizzle over the top

Instructions

*Cut the baguette into about 1/2 inch slices, preferably on an angle to make larger pieces
*Brush both sides of each piece of bread with olive oil
*Place on a heated grill; grill each side until lightly golden
*These can also be made in the oven by placing the olive oil coated bread on a baking sheet, and place under the broiler until lightly golden; then flip to the other side to broil; keep an eye out because this happens quickly
*Allow the bread to cool enough to touch
*Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat; toss the pine nuts around the pan until lightly golden, toasted, and fragrant; allow to cool
*Spread each slice of toasted bread with as much goat cheese as you like
*Top each piece with some dried cherries and pine nuts
*Drizzle a little honey over each piece
*Sprinkle a little of the freshly chopped parsley over each piece as well
*Serve!