Friday, July 26, 2013

Enjoying Summer Cooking with #KraftRecipes {Tomato & Balsamic Bruschetta Recipe}

Kraft logo
With July marking the halfway point of summer (what??), I'm already mentally thinking about what else I would like to get done before my kids head back to school in the fall.

We've done plenty of swimming at the pool, hanging out with friends, planning and booking our upcoming vacation... but the item that I worry will slip past me is having a fun, casual potluck with friends and neighbors.

No matter if you're welcoming the folks that have recently moved to the neighborhood or if you're just having your closest pals over for an afternoon of laid-back entertainment and eating, who doesn't love hosting a summer BBQ or potluck?

As per my norm, I'm always on the lookout for quick, festive decor and tasty, easy recipes that are perfect to share. After all, I can't host a gathering and not have a yummy layered salad or s'mores ingredients on hand, right?

This is why this year I was excited to browse through the wide selection of recipes, ingredients and more at KraftRecipes.com to get a few new ideas. Upon stumbling on Tomato & Balsamic Bruschetta, I knew that I had found a winner!

Bruschetta recipe

In the same way that my kids love anything that I bake with zucchini, my husband will nearly always drop anything and everything for bruschetta. The toasted bread, the sweet tomatoes, the melted cheese — yum! So how could I pass up trying out this delicious twist?

Tomato & Balsamic Bruschetta

Ingredients

1 loaf French bread (16 oz.) cut into 16 slices
2 cloves garlic, halved
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA ⅓ Less Fat than Cream Cheese
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup slivered red onions
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. brown sugar
⅛ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
¼ cup fresh basil leaves (about 8), torn

bruschetta ingredients

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F.

Place bread slices in single layer on baking sheet. Bake 3 to 4 min. on each side or until toasted on both sides. Rub with garlic. Cool.

Spread toast with cream cheese; top with tomatoes and onions.

tomato bruschetta
I left off the onions only because my kids won't touch them.

Whisk vinegar, oil, sugar, salt and pepper until well blended. Drizzle over toast slices; top with basil.

Enjoy!

Tomato and Balsamic Bruschetta

These are such a tasty addition to any potluck or BBQ that your family and friends will surely go back for more! I love the way that they take the classic bruschetta and give it a unique, extremely delicious (and quite addicting) twist. I'll certainly be reaching for the recipe for gatherings as well as to add a tasty change to our dinner table in the future!

This summer, be sure to browse the large number of recipes available at KraftRecipes.com to find a huge selection of snack, meal or dessert ideas that are creative, delicious, fun and perfect for enjoying time at home or as a guest with all of your loved ones.

This post is a part of a partnered campaign with Kraft Foods, however, all thoughts and opinions shared are honest and my own.

33 comments:

Anne said...

When I first saw the title of this blog post, and even the photo, I assumed it would be made with mozzarella. What a nice twist to see it uses cream cheese instead! Thanks for the recipe--keep 'em coming.

Tiffany Schmidt said...

Yum. These would be great to make for my upcoming family reunion. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Never tried bruschetta with cream cheese! Looks delicious though!

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to making these for my next party. What a great summer appetizer! Love the addition of the cream cheese. Yum!

Unknown said...

These look tasty. A great summer treat

annies home said...

just visited our local farmers market this sounds so delicious think I may just give it a try yummy

Unknown said...

These look so yummy and so easy! We have a block party next weekend, I think I am going to bring these :)

slehan said...

I have a picnic I'm going to next weekend and these would be perfect! Thanks for the recipe.

slehan at juno dot com

Unknown said...

This looks delicious.

Victoria said...

This looks really good. I'm not the biggest fan of tomatoes, but I really want to try this recipe.

Unknown said...

That looks amazing! You are so good at photographing food! Those tomatoes look delish.

Unknown said...

This is a really great recipe for Summer time. I love to make this with my fresh tomatoes from our garden. And we make our own bread. thanks for posting the recipe.

Unknown said...

I love this recipe - I never thought of cream cheese for Bruchetta...what a great idea. Thanks for the recipe

laurie nykaza said...

i have tomatoes growing and was looking for new ways to serve them and this looks really good and easy to do can't wait to try doing it

presleyalison said...

LOOKS REALLY GOOD, THANKS FOR SHARING! I HAVE JUST RECENTLY LIKES TOMATOES AND NEED TO TRY THIS!

Seyma Bennett Shabbir said...

They look soo yummy!!! I might add roasted red peppers on top! Thanks for sharing!
seyma_bennett@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love bruschetta! And your pictures look delish!

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

These recipe is amazing! I had no idea making Bruschetta was so simple! Adding everything to my grocery list & going to give it a go!

Rose-Marie said...

I'm swooning these look so good. Perfect for any occasion, fancy or just "us." The cream cheese and onions are a nice change from olive oil!!

Unknown said...

Yum, I love basic bruschetta, but the addition of the onions, basil and balsamic glaze on these looks even more delicious! I bet the fresh basil leaves add a lot of flavor! I also appreciate the simplicity of this recipe! Perfect for a light appetizer at a party or gathering! Thanks for sharing!

judy gardner said...

i have never had bruschetta, but i love tomatoes with basil so i am sure i would love this!

Unknown said...

I love bruchetta. The crunch is amazing and the tomato and cheese is the perfect pairing

Unknown said...

I never thought about putting cream cheese on bruschetta... but this looks so good, I'm going to have to try it.

Unknown said...

I love bruschetta! I like that this recipe calls for using cherry tomatoes instead of diced. Anything that cuts a little prep time is good with me!

Karen Delaney said...

Looks like a good use for those ripe tomatoes that we finally have! Really love both tomatoes and cream cheese, so I'm going to try this!

Unknown said...

This is a good one, fast, easy, and delicious, thank you for posting this. I'm looking forward to trying this.

Remus said...

that looks so good! I haven't ever had this before, but I have been wanting to try it

Unknown said...

looks delicious and fresh.

knickgirl_3 at yahoo dot com

cheryl lister said...

Thanks for the recipe. I love anything with fresh basil.

Salleefur/Jesselyn/Jesster said...

This comment is about 2 months overdue (sorry about that!) but when I first saw this post/recipe (early last August) I immediately emailed to myself and printed a copy - it fulfilled three of my Summer meal planning needs all at one time!

1. An abundance of home grown tomatoes (that were kind of a DELICIOUS cross between Roma/Plum and Grape Tomatoes)

2. An over-abundance of three different varieties a home grown fresh Basil

3. A serious need for Healthy & Delicious snacks / appetizers that I can feed my very hungry Honey/Hubby - when he gets home from a long hard day at work - which he rides his bike to almost every day -45+ miles 'round trip)

This bruschetta recipe really filled the bill - and still remains very much a regular around here (though our home grown tomatoes are long gone and our indoor herb garden is not nearly so "abundant!"

I do vary the basic recipe using different herbs and sometimes adding such goodies as green or Kalamata slices, a sliver of prosciutto or salami - even a shrimp!

So here is a belated thanks for a delicious and endlessly versatile recipe that we enjoy on a weekly basis!

Jesselyn A/Jesstinger
jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com

flairshare said...

I love fresh basil. I have never used cream cheese for bruschetta before. This is a great recipe right now because I have quite a few fresh tomatoes in my little garden. My family will love it!

Janet W. said...

This looks delicious! Now that we're going into winter time, I'm already missing Tomato season!

Shannon said...

Yummy, this sounds so good. Thank you for sharing.