The Easiest Dish I Can Think Of

Bruschetta is by far one of the simplest dishes to make and it tastes amazing every time, so I always have it as a go to dish for Italian meals. Start the night out with these toasts, move onto a green salad, and finish with a pasta dish (following the pasta basics of course), and you will have yourself a complete Italian feast.

What You'll Need:

For the Toasts:

• A crusty baguette, preferably Italian, or a Focaccia loaf


• Extra virgin olive oil


• Salt and pepper


• A single clove of garlic, peeled

For the tomato topping that will be placed on the toasts, I strongly encourage a store bought substitute. You can find bruschetta "sauce" in most supermarkets these days. I personally prefer the Trader Joe's brand. However; if you want to make the topping yourself you'll need to buy a few more ingredients.

For the Topping:

• 3 or more heirloom tomatoes depending on size


• 2 cloves of garlic minced (chopped finely)


• 7-10 leaves of basil laid on top of each other, rolled up like a cigar and chopped into thin strips


• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit


2. Slice the baguette into 3/4 inch slices. Arrange slices and a baking sheet and brush with olive oil using a pastry brush


3. Season the toasts with dashes of salt and pepper
   


4. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, watching to make sure they don't burn.


5. Allow them to cool for a minute then chop the garlic clove in half and rub the toast with the exposed garlic (it transfers the flavor and leaves an amazing taste)


6. Chop the tomatoes into bite-size chunks and toss in a bowl with the garlic, basil, and some extra virgin olive oil


7. Season the topping with salt and pepper and spoon onto toasts (you can also let your guests spoon it themselves so they can control their portions)

Enjoy!