Cranberry-Sage Goat Cheese Crostini

Cranberry-Sage Goat Cheese Crostini

We're going to keep this post short and sweet because Taylor is currently ripping apart our kitchen (a tiny holiday remodel is happening) and I'm having a minor meltdown since my kitchen isn't very functional at the moment (I'm doing dishes with the garden hose outside in the freezing rain since we don't have sink right now!)  So, instead of writing a long blog post I'm just going to share these tasty crostini with you while I try my best to take deep breaths and remind myself that this "small" kitchen remodel will be done by the New Year. Thankfully, our kitchen is tiny -I mean really tiny- so upgrading is actually not going to be a long drawn out process. It's going to be nice having new countertops, cupboards, a larger sink to do dishes in (since we don't have a dishwasher) and finally a hanging spice rack so I can organize my spices! I'm so excited by these small improvements that we are making but it's definitely tough to be put out of a kitchen during the holiday. Obviously it will be worth it in the end so I should quit complaining. If you've been reading this blog for a while you know that Taylor and I moved into the farmhouse in the fall of 2013 and the house itself isn't really a "normal" house. It's actually more like a giant tool shed with a tiny apartment attached to it. It works great for us but the kitchen has always been troublesome and since I spend so much time in there this little upgrade is going to make a world of difference. It's Taylor's gift to me this Christmas and I feel so blessed that he has taken on this project and is making my kitchen an even happier place to spend time in. Anyhow, enough kitchen talk let's get back to these tasty crostini. These guys will be a wonderful addition to any holiday spread and the great news it that they are easy to whip up with minimal dishes (even a girl with just a garden hose can handle these dishes!) The cranberry-sage jam pairs so well with the creamy goat cheese and crusty bread. I got the idea to make the crostini from these cocktails and am so happy with how they turned out. These are obviously a great appetizer but they taste equally as good when served as a main course with a side salad. Simple, tasty and healthy to boot. I hope you all enjoy these crostini as much as we do. Pick up a loaf of good quality bread from your favorite bakery, grab some tasty cheese and fresh cranberries and head straight for your kitchen! Enjoy.

Cranberry-Sage Goat Cheese Crostini

Prep Time: 10 mins.
Cook Time: 15 mins.
Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

For the Cranberry-Sage Sauce:
  • 1 (12 oz) bag fresh organic cranberries
  • 1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • zest from 1 orange (divided)
  • 5-6 fresh sage leaves, minced +additional for garnish
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the crostini:
  • 1 baguette or good quality loaf of bread (I recommend grabbing some from a local bakery) sliced into 1/2 thick slices
  • Olive oil for brushing the slices + additional for serving
  • pinch of fine sea salt
  • 10 ounces organic goat cheese

Preparation

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan bring the honey, water, orange juice, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg to a gentle boil. Add the cranberries, sage leaves and 1/2 of the orange zest. Stir often until the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened. About 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. While the cranberries cook toast your bread. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush each slice of bread with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Toast for about 3-5 minutes per side or until lightly browned.
  3. Assemble the crostini by spreading an even amount of goat cheese on each slice followed by a spoonful of the jam. Sprinkle each crostini with a little orange zest, minced sage, pinch of fine sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Notes

*Use this recipe as a guide. *Adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary. *Have fun in the kitchen and don't be afraid to mix things up to suit your taste preference.

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