Recipe: Pea and Cheese Crostini

Ingredients: 

1 French baguette cut into 1/4 inch slices

2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for crostini

Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

2 cups shelled fresh or frozen peas (I used frozen)

2 ounces finely grated Romano cheese- equals a 1/2 cup

2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon 

2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese

pea shoots to garnish

Fresh lemon juice for garnish

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Pour enough olive oil on a baking sheet to coat the cut baguette. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake until crostini are toasted and crisp, about 15 minutes, turning crostini halfway through.

 Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add peas and cook until tender then rinse and drain. Rinse with cold water. 

Transfer cooled peas to bowl, lightly mash with a potato masher or fork. Add olive oil, cheese and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.  

To serve: Top each crostini with about 1 tablespoon of ricotta, a few teaspoons of peas and a few leaves of pea shoots. Drizzle with olive oil and some lemon juice then serve.

This recipe was sooooo tasty, I had some for lunch and dinner and can not wait to make it again soon......real soon! A light and very clean tasting dish that was simple and fast. What else can you ask for in a appetizer?