New Year's Recipe for our Current SAH Virtual Dinner Parties: Goat Cheese and Fig Crostini

If I had to reflect on the past year I'd say the the biggest item I missed in 2020, the Year of Covid, was entertaining in our home. From family filled dinner parties to girls' nights to couple game nights I missed it all. I missed whipping up large spreads of foods and filling our house with music and laughter and I am hopeful in the NY we can all get back to some resemblance of this once it is safe to do so. And so in anticipation for when that day comes or for just the now if one is planning a virtual dinner party with your friends/ family this is one of my go to easy recipes for an appetizer that is as pleasing as it is simple. I love to serve this alongside a charcuterie board (there will be an upcoming post on this as well as I like to individualize them based on the eating needs of my guests). 5-10 mins tops to put together and you're done. It's sweet, tart, creamy and with a hint of savory. Crowd pleaser every time. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• Half of a French baguette sliced into thin rounds or to save even more time pick up a bag of crostini from your local grocer already seasoned

• 4 oz. log of goat cheese (can be original or honey)

• 8-10 figs (You can use dried or fresh if they're in season) sliced into fours. In a jam I also like to use fig jam- no pun intended ha!

• couple of springs of thyme or rosemary finely chopped

• Honeycomb (optional) or honey (I find honeycomb at my local WF or Publix, but it can be ordered online as well and it stores great in a cool dark place never expiring)

• Olive oil (if you are using a baguette and not already done crostini pieces)

• Fresh cracked pepper

This first step is for if you are using a baguette and not prepared crostini:

Preheat oven to low broil temp. Slice bread into thin rounds, I like to start with 10-12 pieces. Brush each piece with olive oil and place on a cookie sheet. Place in oven and let toast up for 2 mins watching them to make sure they don't burn. Take out and let them cool to the touch.

Hold a crostini in your hand and take a dollop of goat cheese and spread it thickly on the toast. After you spread the goat cheese on take a couple of the figs and place on top of the goat cheese along with a few springs of thyme or rosemary. Place on whatever serving dish you plan to serve the crostini on and repeat until all have been done. Next drizzle honey over all the crostini and on areas of the plate in a design fashion. If using honeycomb break apart small pieces of the comb and place a dollop on each crostini along with some of the liquid honey in the bottom of the container. Grind fresh cracked pepper over the top and you're finished!

**For a variation sometimes that I like to do when I'm feeling extra, is after you top all your crostini place them under the broiler for a minute. The goat cheese will melt a little and the fruit will caramelize adding another depthness of flavor to this simple app.**