Ahh  Summer, so much vegetables and fruits to eat!! Everything looks delicious, it is really difficult not to purchase all that looks appetizing and that smells so delicious…

I am lucky to live in a location where we have tons of farmers and tons of local produces. Though it is a tad difficult to go to the produce market during the school year, I have enjoyed going these past few weeks. Everything smells so good in that store, that it is very tempting to buy everything that is at your fingertips;-)

Last time I went there, a couple of days ago, I bought a few peaches, a cantaloupe, a few red tomatoes and a gallon of strawberries. Yes, a gallon… That is a lot  I know, but I intended to use them in my morning shakes, eat them for a snack during the day, and give some away. I wanted to give some away to my mother-in-law, but when I went to here house, I saw that she, too, had purchased a gallon of strawberries … so I had to take mine back home and figure out what to do with them before they got spoiled.

Really, what can you do with strawberries?? especially a gallon of strawberries??? Of course you can make fruit salads, jams, tarts, cream, ice-creams and many, many more desserts!

I wanted to use them otherwise than as a dessert so I decided to make a Strawberry Bruchetta. It is actually quite easy to make, fast, inexpensive and it is beautiful to the eyes and your tastebuds;-) You would think that it is too sweet, but the tang of the goat cheese, and the fact that the strawberries are seasoned with vinegar, salt, and pepper, it makes them taste almost unsweetened. It was a delight for me;-) I dare you to try;-)

Ingredients to make 30-40 individual pieces:

• 1 French baguette sliced thinly,
• 1 log of goat cheese at room temperature ( about 6 oz.)
• 1 pint of fresh strawberries ( use local ones if you can, they taste so much better),
• 1 tbsp of basil olive oil, I used the Demarle Basil olive oil.
• 1 tbsp of traditional balsamic vinegar,
• 1 tbsp of fresh basil chopped.

1. Slice the baguette thinly, and place it on top of the silpain atop a medium perforated sheet. If you do not have either, place the bread onto a cookie sheet. 
2. Cook the slices for 5-7 minutes or until they are crisp on both sides.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the strawberry topping. Chop the strawberries and place them into a medium-sized bowl.
   
4. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, a dash of salt and of pepper, the chopped basil and mix well.
5. When the sliced baguette are crispy, remove them from the oven and let them cool down.
6. Spread the cheese over the baguette.
7. And spoon a bit of the strawberry mixture atop the cheese. Eat right away;-))) Miam.

Bon Appetit and Happy Cooking!!!