Simple Meals: Bruschetta, Two Ways

Sunday dinner is served. Despite its fancy looks, it was quick and easy. 

Sundays are routinely busy, and dinner is often the last thing on my mind. With a load of laundry in the wash, and a few weekend projects needing their loose ends tied up before the work week begins again, it's hard to go out on a Sunday night even for a quick meal. Enter my latest Sunday night solution. Simple, fridge-clearing meals with one common item: a baguette.

Last week's vegetables were languishing on the counter and in the crisper; goat cheese and prosciutto that I purchased for a special meal needed to be used before it went bad, too. One bunch of kale threatened to go bad, too.

For each of these recipes, feel free to lightly toast the sliced baguette before topping it with bruschetta; I was feeling lazy and skipped that step. Also, I tend to burn toast, which was not my desired outcome. Burned baguettes don't go over well in our home—not even the pup will eat 'em!

And as one more vegetable on our plates, I made a batch of kale chips sprinkled with sea salt and nutritional yeast. A simple, quick way to get your greens that's tasty to boot!

Strawberries, basil, and goat cheese make for a marvelous combination.

Strawberry Basil Bruschetta
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
2 ounces goat cheese
8-10 slices of baguette, about 1/4 inch thick

Mix the chopped berries, olive oil, and basil in a small bowl and let sit while you slice the baguette. Spread each slice of bread with goat cheese, and then top with the strawberry-basil mixture.

Tomato Basil Bruschetta
1 cup chopped heirloom tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
8-10 slices of baguette, about 1/4 inch thick

sliced sharp cheddar or parmesan cheese (optional)

prosciutto (optional)

Mix the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl and set side. Top each slice of bread with cheese (if using), then tomato mixture and prosciutto (if using).