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Bruschetta

Fresh sweet ripe summer tomatoes never tasted so good.


Tomato mixture:
1 large tomato, finely diced and drained
1 clove garlic, passed through press
dash salt
1/4 tsp sugar
dash black pepper
dash crushed red pepper
palmful fresh basil leaves, minced
1 tsp Balsamic vinegar

basil leaves to garnish

1/2 baguette bread, sliced at an angle, or 6 slices Italian bread, each cut in half
2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil

Mix together the tomato mixture ingredients in a medium bowl.  Allow to marinate.

Preheat broiler if using baguette.  Toast Italian bread slices if using Italian loaf.  Toast baguettes, if using, under broiler just until browned - watch carefully as they cook quickly.

Melt the butter in the oil in a small bowl in the microwave.  Butter the toast points evenly with the butter/oil mix.  Distribute the tomato mixture on the warm buttered toasts.  Garnish with pieces of fish basil leaves. Serve.


Makes 18-20 toast points (if using baguette)

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