Roasted Garlic and Brie Crostini - Chef George Albiez, Instructor, Culinary Arts, Ivy Tech State College

This excellent appetizer will please your guests every time.  If you prefer some other cheese to the recommended Brie, by all means substitute it.  Serve these tasty crostini either warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 or 2 French baguettes or a loaf of French bread
2 heads of garlic
1 14.5 oz. wheel of Brie
8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 bunch of basil
1/2 red bell pepper finely diced.

To roast garlic cut the tops from each head of garlic exposing the cloves,  Set in a sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle olive oil over garlic and season with kosher salt and ground pepper.  Wrap foil into a packet and roast at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Squeeze cloves from paper skin of garlic into a food processor or blender and process into a paste.

Slice bread into serving pieces.  Spread roasted garlic paste onto bread slices.  Top with slices of brie.  Bake for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted.  Garnish with basil and diced red bell pepper.  Serve warm or at room temperature.