ARTICHOKE AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

ARTICHOKE AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA image

Yield 18-20 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 7

18 slices baguette bread slices, cut on the diagonal about 1/4-inch thick
extra virgin olive oil
2 6 oz jars marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup + 2 TB chopped flat leaf parsely (italian), divided
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Brush baguette bread slices on both sides with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Bake slices until just crisp, about 3 minutes a side. Remove from oven and leave on baking sheet. (Bread can be toasted 3 hours ahead; cover loosely with foil and leave at room temperature.) Makes 18 - 20 bruschettas. Drain artichokes, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the oil they were packed in, and place them in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add reserved 2 tablespoons artichoke oil, 1/2 cup of the parsley, Parmesan cheese, and several grindings of black pepper. Process, pulsing machine, until mixture is a coarse puree. (Puree can be prepared 3 hours ahead; cover and leave at cool room temperature.) When ready to serve, spread each bread slice with a mound of artichoke puree and top with some crumbled goat cheese. (Bruschetta can be assembled 1 hour ahead; leave uncovered, at room temperature.) --0r--When ready to eat, bake until cheese is melted and bruschetta are warm, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle bruschetta with black pepper and some of the remaining parsley. Serve warm on a platter.