Title: Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Torta W/ Toasted Cro
Categories: Cheese Vegetable
Yield: 15 Servings

8	oz	Cream cheese; room temp
1	sm	Garlic clove; peeled
1/4	c	Basil; fresh; loosely packed
		Parmesan cheese
		Crostini for serving
4	oz	Blue cheese; room temp
3/4	c	Italian parsley; fresh; loosely packed
1/4	c	Sun-dried tomatoes; drained
		Slivered
1/4	c	Walnuts; finely chopped
1/4	c	Olive oil
		Crostini:
1		French bread baguette
2	tb	Herbes de provence (or your -- choice of herb blend
1/4	c	Olive oil
1	tb	Garlic; minced

In mixing bowl combine cream cheese and blue cheese and allow to come to room temperature. Mix until thoroughly blended and set aside. Drop one small clove garlic into the dry bowl of an electric food processor with the motor running. Instant minced garlic! You may of course, mince the garlic and chop the remaining ingredients by hand. Combine parsleyu, basil and sun-dried tomatoes in the bowl of the processor with the garlic; process until smooth, then with the motor running pour in the olive oil. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl. Stir in the Parmesan and walnuts. Line a 5-1/2 x 2-1/2 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving extra wrap hanging over the sides. Divide the cheese mixture into three equal portions. Spread one-third of cheese mixture on bottom of pan; spread half of the tomato-basil mixture over cheese. Repeat the cheese layer and tomato-basil layer. Top with the remaining third of cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours (or freeze). To serve, allow the torta to come to room temperature for 30 minutes (2 hours if frozen). Invert onto a platter, provide a spreader and serve with crostini. CROSTINI: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut French bread into thin slices and place on a cookie sheet. In small bowl, combine olive oil, herbs and garlic. Spread or brush each slice lightly with the herb-garlic mixture and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until golden. From Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook - 101 Stories with Recipes from the Heart. Recipe by Carol Miller.

Formatted for MM by Pegg Seevers 10/21/95

previous

next