Tomato Toast Bites

Each year my Mom starts so many tomato plants from seed in spring, and by early summer the tomatoes start to ripen... she shares them with me! Thanks Mom! My family and I love to pick the fresh tomatoes and pop them in our mouths, just off the vine. It's a great way to introduce tomatoes to kids at a young age, because it makes eating them so fun.  

I love summer tomato recipes, especially just before the 4th of July with their bright red addition to any summertime spread.  When I found this amuse recipe for "Tomato Burgers" I was very intrigued.  Theirs sounds amazing, but for us, I recreated the recipe using baguette and a few other modifications to keep it simple, yet still very delicious! 

INGREDIENTS (for about 7 Tomato Toast bites)

• 5 medium tomatoes, (seeds removed and saved to add to another recipe, gazpacho anyone?)
• 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
• 2 tbsp finely chopped shallots
• 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 2-3 tbsp goat cheese 
• 5 fresh basil leaves
• salt and pepper
• 14 thin slices of baguette

METHOD

1. Cut tomatoes int o 1/4 in dice. 
2. Stir diced tomatoes together with sun-dried tomatoes, shallots, vinegar and salt and pepper. 
3. Very lightly toast fresh thinly sliced baguette and spread goat cheese on each slice. 
4. Add the tomato mixture to half the toasts over the goat cheese.
5. Top the tomato mixture with a basil leaf and another slice of goat cheese toast.  
6. Gently press to make the tiny sandwiches compact, but not too much so that the tomatoes press out.  
7. Serve as a breakfast toast, appetizer or healthy summertime snack.