Every Holiday, my husband gets excited to compose the best menu for our family get together. I leave the cooking up to him. We began watching the Food Network Channel right after we were married almost 11 years ago and ever since he has amazed me with the delicious food he brings to the table.

Food brings people together and in my journey thus far with The Pickled Mustard Seed, I have been overwhelmed with the stories around the table I receive from my customers. I learned, you don’t have to use a stove, oven, or grill to make wonderful food, but sometimes I like to find a fun recipe to add to the graze.

This Blueberry, Goat Cheese, & Thyme Crostini is exactly what I was looking for to add to the mix this Spring Season. I love how you can assemble them for a quick grab appetizer, or you can leave apart to allow your guest to build their own. Anytime you build your own, it holds a fun experience for everyone.

I made this one evening for the two of us and knew right then that this would be served many times durning this spring.

(Disclaimer: I also made this recipe a couple of days later for our friends and almost burnt the house down twice) Now… That’s a story for another day. Let’s just say, I have some wonderful friends that sat down and laughed it off with me.

You will want to find a durable bread. One you can cut into about 1/2 inch and toast in the oven sprinkled with a bit of olive oil. I used a French Baguette I found at Aldi, but you can find this bread at most any grocery store.

Once the bread is toasted, set aside and make your blueberry compote. A compote is a fresh, sweet sauce made from berries or other juicy fruit. You typically see a compotes on waffles, french toast, or ice cream. It is a wonderful addition to many desserts. This particular recipe has a tangy flavor that pairs extremely well with the sweetness of the berries and enhances the goat cheese base.

To top your crostinis, smear a teaspoon of plain goat cheese. Top the goat cheese with about a tablespoon of your blueberry mixture, sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves, and top with a drizzle of honey. To finish it up, splash with a bit of lemon juice and enjoy.

Blueberry, Goat Cheese Crostini Topped with Thyme and Honey

Ingredients:

• 1 Baguette
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 8 oz carton of blueberries
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBSP honey
• 5 oz plain goat cheese
• Fresh Thyme for topping
• 1 half lemon wedge

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to broil.
2. Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch slices, drizzle a bit of olive oil on each, and place on a prepared banking sheet.
3. Place pan under broiler and cook for 1 minute or until lightly browned on top. Remove from oven and set aside.
4. Add the blueberries, water, apple cider vinegar, and one teaspoon honey into a small pan.
5. Bring to boil and let cook for 5 minutes. The blueberries should begin opening up and the liquid will begin to reduce a bit.
6. To assemble: spread a thin layer of goat cheese on each of the toasted crostinis.
7. Top each piece with 1 TBSP of blueberry mixture (Make sure to use a slotted spoon)
8. Drizzle each piece with honey.
9. Sprinkle the leaves from Thyme to top and splash with a tiny bit of fresh lemon juice.
10. Serve immediately