Sweet and Savory Chocolate Balsamic Strawberry Crostini Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 French Baguette sliced
• ½ cup Olive Oil (enough to brush on both sides of baguette rounds)
• 1 pint of Strawberries, hulled and sliced lengthwise creating heart shapes
• Approximately ¼ cup of Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar (I purchase from Olive Oil & Beyond on Balboa Island)
• 4 oz. Cream Cheese
• 4 oz Mascarpone
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• ¼ cup of Turbinado Sugar (Sugar in the Raw)
• ½ cup Roasted Salted Pistachios, shelled
• 6 large Basil Leaves

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°
2. Brush olive oil on both sides of French baguette rounds and bake until golden brown about 6-8 minutes per side.
3. Place sliced strawberries in a Ziploc bag and coat with Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar. Allow to sit in vinegar for 30 minutes.
4. Mix cream cheese, mascarpone and vanilla until completely blended and smooth in stand mixer or food processor.
5. Lightly crush shelled pistachios in a small back with a rolling pin, or rough chop them.
6. Chiffonade the basil leaves by staking the leaves, rolling them lengthwise and slicing across them.
7. Spread mascarpone mixture on to each toasted round and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Rest one heart shaped strawberry slice on top. Sprinkle more turbinado sugar on top of strawberry for sweetness and crunch. Top with a few crushed pistachios and strands of the basil chiffonade.
8. Using a small spoon, drizzle a few drops of the chocolate balsamic vinegar on top.