Tomato & Feta Bruschetta

In order to save money, eat healthy and eat what’s on my menu plan, I’ve been enjoying lunch at home nearly every day. I enjoy making something nice, sitting down with a magazine and enjoying each bite. You know they all say its the simple things in life that are best? Well how much more simple could you get than tomato and cheese on toast in the form of this Tomato & Feta Bruschetta (has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?).

I’ve also changed the way I shop. No longer do I spend $30 on a box full of fruit and vegies that will most likely get thrown out at the end of the fortnight because I haven’t incorporated it into my weekly meal plan. I’d rather menu plan these days and get 1 or 2 gourmet, vine ripened tomatoes and enjoy the flavour and taste than waste a whole bunch of food. It works out more economical for me and my family.

I’m still on the ‘feta bandwagon’ and am enjoying it in most meals and it doesn’t look like going away anytime soon.

Tomato & Feta Bruschetta

• sour dough bread slices, toasted or grilled
• oil for brushing
• garlic clove or garlic spread
• tomatoes
• feta cheese
• salt & pepper
• dried basil
• italian flat leaf parsley for garnish

1. Spray or brush sour dough slices with oil and grill or toast until brown.
2. Rub with peeled garlic clove or spread with garlic spread. (I have a nice garlic spread and put it on just about everything.)
3. Meanwhile, chop tomatoes and add salt, pepper and dried (or fresh) basil.
4. Add feta cheese to tomato mixture and put onto toasted bread. 
5. Top with parsley to garnish.

Bruschetta

I don’t have very many food memories from movies but one. The scene from “Julie & Julia”, where the young American, Julie Powell, makes bruschetta and eats it. I just drool thinking about it. It just looked so delicious and mouth watering.

The husband asked this morning what was for lunch and I said I was thinking about making bruschetta. I said “you know, toasted bread topped with tomatoes?”. And he said “so, basically toast”. Basically toast?

It’s so much more than that, flavour wise, but to make it, it’s very, very simple. I have it often for lunch when I’m home alone. It’s quick and easy but one of those eating experiences you never want to end.

Bruschetta

2-3 tomatoes, chopped (I used cocktail tomatoes)
1/2 tsp dried basil or a few fresh basil leaves
salt & pepper
extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 slices sour dough bread (or firm crusty bread)
extra EVOO for frying bread
2 garlic cloves

Combine tomatoes, EVOO, basil and salt and pepper. Allow to sit for 10 mins as the salt will draw out moisture from the tomatoes.

Heat 2 tbs EVOO in a pan and fry garlic cloves for about 2 mins.

Remove garlic and fry bread each side.

Spoon tomato mixture onto bread and enjoy. Make sure you spoon all the juices from the tomatoes onto the bread as well. Sprinkle with extra salt to serve.