Mushroom & Basil Crostini with Garlic & Cheese Spread

Last week I was planning to make a lovely crostini for our monthly Moms Night Out however, company came by and I did not get to the store to buy the bread. Therefore, I picked up the bread yesterday and made these amazingly tasty crostini for the family.

Knowing that my son, sometimes enjoys mushrooms (mushroom soup), I knew he may end up grimacing but I was willing to risk it. These are super easy to make as you can saute the mushrooms while the bread is in the oven.

Thymely Tip: Remember, that simply because someone/kids do not enjoy a food in one form, does not mean they would not enjoy the flavor profile in another (raw versus sauteed)

Mushroom & Basil Crostini with Garlic & Cheese Spread
makes two dozen

2 Ciabatta Olive Oil Bread Stix (found at stop & shop)
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
8 0z fresh mushrooms of your choice (I used baby portabello), finely chopped
1 tub of light garlic and herbs spreadable cheese
Fresh Basil leaves, chopped

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Slice the bread into 1/2 inch pieces. Because they were already made with olive oil, salt and pepper, I was able to skip this step.

Toast the bread for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute for about 6 minutes, stirring often.

Remove the bread from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Spread a 1/2 teaspoon of cheese spread onto the bread, a dollop of mushrooms and top with some basil.

We found that we did not need to use any seasoning as the cheese spread is salty enough.