Tomato Blue Cheese Crostini for #SundaySupper

A sudden wind lifts the flag towards the sky. It almost dances as unfurls in the waves of air. Its flapping sound calls out as if to say “look at me”. That flag is a symbol of strength and unity. The flag of the United States has been flown in peace and war. People have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving to protect the republic for which it stands. Memorial Day is a time to honor courageous fallen soldiers. Gathering with family and friends is a way to come together and remember sacrifices made to ensure our freedoms. Tomato Blue Cheese Crostini is an appetizer fit for a patriotic feast.

What comes to mind when you think of red, white, and blue food? Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Berries are a big summer treat. With that in mind, a year or so ago I came up with Summer Berry Pizza. Blueberries, strawberries, and sweet mascarpone cheese make a nice dessert pizza. Then the cheese part started me thinking of savory. That’s how Spicy Blue Cheese Shortbread Cookies came about.

Fresh herbs are also abundant in summer. Unfortunately there are not any blue herbs in my garden. However using them as a garnish is definitely a way to go. My basil plant needed pinching back to make it fuller later. The tops were all I needed to chop and sprinkle on the crostini. What is under the basil is a base of thinly sliced baguette toasted with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then creamy blue cheese spread goes on the little toasts. Grape tomatoes are piled on and a drizzle of balsamic glaze brings a tangy sweetness for balance and contrast.

What will you do for Memorial Day? One of the things I plan to do is go out and tend to my garden. There are some plants in need of attention. I have to replace my flat leaf parsley. It went to seed already (usually doesn’t happen until later in the summer). There are other plants in containers to move around since the sun is now hitting in different spots. Another thing I plan to do is fire up the grill to make a nice holiday meal.

Where to find recipes for Memorial Day food? A great place to start is to scroll down to see a list of ones by Sunday Supper tastemakers. The recipes are for red, white, and blue food. Some have one color and others have two or all three. Any of them would be wonderful for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and any other patriotic celebration. Special thanks to DB (aka Foodie Stuntman) of Crazy Foodie Stunts for hosting this holiday event.

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Tomato Blue Cheese Crostini

Tomato Blue Cheese Crostini is an elegant appetizer made of toasted bread topped with creamy blue cheese spread, fresh tomatoes, balsamic glaze, and basil.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 12 servings

Author Renee

Ingredients

For the crostini:

• 1 baguette
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Fresh ground pepper

For the blue cheese spread:

• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon grated shallot
• 1 teaspooon worchestershire sauce
• 3 to 4 drops Tabasco sauce
• 3 ounces blue cheese crumbles at room temperature

For the toppings:

• 1 pint grape tomatoes quartered
• Balsamic glaze or vinegar
• Chopped fresh basil or parsley

Instructions

For the crostini:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/4-inch thick slices.
3. Place slices in a single layer on a sheet pan (may need to use multiple sheet pans or do in batches). Brush slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
5. Transfer crostini to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the blue cheese spread:

1. Beat cream cheese, shallot, worchestershire sauce, and Tabasco until creamy. Stir in blue cheese.

To assemble tomato blue cheese crostini:

1. Spread blue cheese mixture on crostini and top with tomatoes.
2. Drizzle balsamic glaze on tomatoes. Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley on top.

Recipe Notes

Crostini and blue cheese spread can be made a couple of days in advance. Store crostini in a sealed container. Cover and chill blue cheese spread then bring to room temperature prior to using.

How to celebrate the colors of the United States flag? One way is with food. Take a look at these patriotic red, white, and blue recipes by Sunday Supper tastemakers:

Food Using One Color
Red Food

• Baby Back Ribs with Roasted Strawberry Barbecue Sauce by Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Baked Tomato Breakfast Cups by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Red Velvet Milk Shake by Nosh My Way
• Strawberry Meringue Tartlets by What Smells So Good?
• Strawberry Oat Crumbles by The Wimpy Vegetarian

White Food

• Alabama BBQ Sauce by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Blue Food

• Blueberry Breakfast Cookies by Pies and Plots
• Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Blue Velvet Cupcakes by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Food Using Two Colors
Red and White Food

• Pickled Shrimp with Pico de Gallo by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Sausage Rougail (Rougail Saucisse) by The Petit Gourmet

Blue and White Food

• Blueberry Feta Cucumber Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Blueberry Pierogi by Curious Cuisiniere

Red, White and Blue Food

• Berry Berry Celebration by Momma’s Meals
• Berry Patriotic Chia Seed Pudding by Tasting Page
• Easy White Chocolate Covered Marshmallows by Palatable Pastime
• Eton Mess by Caroline’s Cooking
• Firecracker Cupcakes by The Crumby Cupcake
• Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar by Family Foodie
• Individual Loaded Red, White, and Blue Salads by The Weekend Gourmet
• Patriotic Panna Cotta by The Freshman Cook
• Patriotic Cocktail by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Red White And Blue Coleslaw by Nik Snacks
• Red White and Blue Parfaits by Life Tastes Good
• Red, White and Blue Cherry Pie by Savory Experiments
• Red White and Blue Cheese Potato Salad by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Red, White and Blue Sangria by Food Lust People Love
• Red White and Blue Sundae by Desserts Required
• St. Honore Cake by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• Strawberry, Blueberry & Raspberry Cheesecake Crumble by Food Done Light
• Tomato Blue Cheese Crostini by Magnolia Days
• Tomato, Shrimp and Bleu Cheese Pizza by Our Good Life
• Triple Berry Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Vanilla Pound Cake with Fresh Berries by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Watermelon, Feta and Beet Appetizer by Take A Bite Out of Boca

5 Tips for Potlucks by Sunday Supper Movement

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.