Summer Tomato and Parmesan Bruschetta

Bruschetta has long been a snack or appetizer item for fans of Italian cooking. In fact, you can't really go into an Italian restaurant any more without having some version of this classic dish being offered. Many people may think that bruschetta is particularly difficult to make, but they would be wrong. If you would like to bring a little extra elegance to your next Italian meal, or you would simply like to have a great tasting light snack, then try this fantastic recipe for summer tomato and Parmesan bruschetta. The best part is, that from start to finish, this item will only take you about 17 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 one pound loaf of French or Italian style bread
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Chopped fresh basil (optional garnish)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven. Turn the broiler of your oven on and close the oven door. The broiler should reach the desired temperature by the time that you are finished preparing the rest of your ingredients.
2. Slice bread. Prepare the bread by cutting the entire loaf into one inch thick slices. This should give you about twelve pieces of bread. Once you have sliced the bread place the slices onto a baking sheet and drizzle some olive oil over the bread. The bread should not be swimming in the oil, but each of the pieces should have some.
3. Create topping. Using a medium mixing bowl begin combining the tomatoes, garlic and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix these ingredients together as if you were tossing salad, until everything has been evenly distributed. Additional seasoning can be achieved by adding salt and pepper according to your personal preference.
4. Top bread. Place some of the tomato topping on top of each slice of bread. Try to put an even amount on each piece to ensure even cooking. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven.
5. Broil. Allow your bruschetta to broil for one to two minutes. You will know that it is finished when the exposed bread has toasted to a beautiful golden brown color. Remove the cooked bruschetta from the oven, and sprinkle with some freshly chopped basil as a garnish. Set aside to cool slightly before serving.

After allowing the bruschetta to cool slightly, serve it.. The ideal temperatures for serving bruschetta are slightly warm or at room temperature. This recipe is designed to serve 12 people, but can easily be adjusted to fit your needs. To serve less, prepare as listed, but only broil the amount that you need. Place the rest of the ingredients into plastic storage containers for later use. For more servings, simply increase the number of ingredients to reach your desired results.