Simple and loaded with flavor, Grandpa's Winery Bruschetta is the perfect accompaniment to a glass of Italian wine. I love wine and this appetizer is a perfect match. Don't forget to eat the fresh basil while your at it. It's all good!
This appetizer and a glass or two of Italian red will set you free. You better make a large tray of this appetizer because they'll disappear in a hurry. (This little plate was for the photograph.) Then I'd bring on a large tray of Grandpa's French appetizer. (This will be my next post!)
Ingredients:
- Jar of Sun-Dried Tomatoes (packed in extra virgin olive oil and herbs)*
- Best Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Baguette or 2, sliced **
- Fresh basil leaves
- Sea salt for the table
* You'll find jars of sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil in the produce department of a Harris Teeter; on the grocery isle at a Whole Foods; at A Southern Season (call them toll-free); and who knows where at your local giant supermarket. Ask the store manager to walk you to the product.
** Ask the bakery to slice and bag the baguette for you.
Instructions:
Toast both sides of the slices of baguettes in your toaster oven or range oven. Brush one side of the baguette slices with your best extra virgin olive oil and plate the slices. Some may then choose to lightly salt the toast with fine sea salt. Use a fork to set slices of sun-dried tomatoes on each slice of toast. Garnish the plate with fresh basil (and expect it to be eaten too).
Once upon a time, before I was a grandpa and Nancy was a grandma, we did an 8-day walking tour of Tuscany. Our little group walked 8 to 10 miles a day through vineyards, forests, and farms in Chianti. We had picnics under the shade of glimmering olive trees. Sometimes we had lunch in a village home, and another time in a farm yard. We enjoyed several late afternoon wine tastings at vineyards along the walk. One vineyard offered a tray of sun-dried tomatoes on toast points to eat while sampling their wine. We stayed at quaint inns, including a 150 year-old farmhouse that served sumptuous 7-course dinners and wine from pitchers filled from their barrels. Am I serious? I am. We did our walking tour many years ago and it is one of the most memorable vacations we've had. Nowadays you'll find these walking tours provided by a Vermont company, www.vbt.com/.
Here is a still picture I took as we approached a vineyard in Tuscany.
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