Pear and Goat Cheese Crostini

As Christmas Day continues to approach at the rate of a runaway freight train (can you tell I’m not quite finished with my shopping yet?), the more ideas I keep needing for food. Dessert for this party, appetizers for that event. Pie duty for Christmas day. I love it, and I’m in my element. I’m also struggling to do the other non food related necessary things for the season, like send out Christmas cards and…ahem…shop.

These crostini were supposed to be a part of my holiday cooking extravaganza, but unfortunately, they ended up getting left behind 🙁

I made these crostini the day that I went to a cookie exchange/gingerbread house decorating party, and I was going to bring them to share!

As I was walking out the door (with cookies, decorating kits, and other Christmas cheer in tow) I got a phone call, and I forgot to run upstairs and grab the crostini out of the fridge.

When I was half way to my friend’s house I realized what I’d forgotten, and Taylor called asking, “Did you forget the crostini?”

I smacked my hand on my forehead, “Yes! Dang it!”

There was a few moments of silence on his end.

“Can I eat the crostini?”

“…yes”

So, at least someone enjoyed them. He ate some for breakfast the next day too. Let me tell you, fresh out of the oven toasted crostini is far superior to next day microwaved crostini!

Even though I failed at this, YOU should make these and bring them to your next holiday gathering. If you need a good appetizer recipe, crostini are a great way to do something easy and flexible that looks fancy and tastes fabulous!

All a crostini consists of is sliced toasted baguette and whatever toppings you feel like gracing it with. It’s  helpful to have a flavorful spread and maybe something crunchy and fresh.

They can be eaten with your hands, and don’t take long to make at all. If you want to have it ready ahead of time, just prepare all of the toppings the day before, and keep them in the fridge until the baguette is sliced, toasted and ready to go

 

Let me tell you why they’re so good.

First you slice the baguette, then you brush it with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. It goes in the oven for a few minutes.

Then you spread a delicious mixture of goat cheese and orange zest on each piece. Top that with thinly sliced pear, with is topped with chopped, toasted pecans.

Finish it off with a drizzle of honey, and you are in business! The warm, crunchy, toasted crostini business.

The sharp goat cheese mixed with the creamy toasted pecans and the sweet fresh pear all combine to make one tasty mouthful.

Of course, the fact that they’re so flexible means that you could use thinly sliced apples instead of pears, or walnuts instead of pecans. Substitute whatever you want! That’s the beauty of crostini.

They will cheer up any holiday appetizer table, and you might be getting requests for more when the first batch runs out!