What day is it again? Thursday? How did Thursday happen? To tell you the truth, losing track of time is not my only problem. I’m struggling here, in this new living situation. I lost a significant amount of counter space and gave up my dishwasher to move to Kansas City. Worst of all, I can’t seem to figure out the lighting in my new place. One cloud rolls overhead and all the rooms go dark.
Yesterday evening, I tried in vain to catch the last rays of golden sunlight by propping up this tray of crostini on a precarious ledge next to a window. The whole thing fell to the floor with a clatter, leaving a trail of sticky honey on my leg, goat cheese on the tile and little shards of ceramic plate all over my sunroom. I was about ready to give up on ever taking a decent picture in this place. This morning, however, beautiful light is streaming in through all the windows. I can’t decide if the light is taunting me or encouraging me to try, try again, but try again I will. Here’s to hoping I’ll have this figured out and be back to my regular posting schedule next week.
These little toasts were supposed to be a quick and easy post, a light meal to help make up for an extravagant, extended wedding weekend in Colorado. In my never-ending quest to find the best flavor combinations, however, I just had to try goat cheese crostini with arugula, figs, balsamic and sherry vinegar, raspberries and pears, and in the process justified massive consumption of cheese and bread for two days straight. Typical!
Here’s my favorite variation: grilled whole wheat crostini spread with goat cheese, topped with slices of pear and a couple of raspberries, and finished with a drizzle of honey, a sprinkling of black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. They are pretty perfect for this awkward time between summer and fall, and make for a quick snack or impressive appetizer.
Pear, Raspberry and Goat Cheese Crostini
- Author:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Toasted
- Cuisine: N/A
- Diet: Vegetarian
These late summer appetizers are plenty decadent, like a long wedding weekend, but stacked with enough healthy ingredients to justify eating for dinner all on their own. To all my single ladies: feel free to plop a good piece of whole wheat bread in the toaster and top as directed. Dinner is served!
Ingredients
- 1 whole grain baguette, or slices of whole wheat bread
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 10 ounces goat cheese, at room temperature (a log of it, not goat cheese crumbles)
- 2 ripe pears, cut into ¼-inch thick slices
- ½ cup fresh raspberries
- Honey, for drizzling
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Flaky or fine sea salt, optional (to taste)
Instructions
- Slice the baguette into ½-inch rounds. Brush both sides of each round with olive oil and grill on medium heat until the bread is toasted and light grill marks appear. Alternatively, you could toast the crostini in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for about 4 to 7 minutes, turning halfway. Or just toss the bread in the toaster and then brush the toast with olive oil.
- Top each crostini with a smear of goat cheese, then a slice of pear and two raspberries. Drizzle a bit of honey and a light sprinkle of lemon juice over the top. Finish it with a light sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and sea salt.
Notes
- I didn’t bother with exact quantities here, but I trust that you can figure them out to suit your needs.
▸ Nutrition Information
P.s. Need more toast in your life? Try avocado toast (I insist!) or garlicky tomato and goat cheese toast.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Ashlae
The last three apartments I lived in had HORRIBLE lighting. So, when I moved into my current place, the number one requirement was good freaking lighting. It’s so hard to come by, even in sunny Colorado.
I’ve been easing back into consuming gluten, and I definitely see these little crostini in my future :)
claire @ the realist
Oh my gosh those flavors. I’m drooling.
Kathryn
It took me about a year to figure out where the best place in my apartment was to take pictures; I dread the thought of moving and having to start again!
I love little things on toast for any meal and at any time of year but you’re right about it being perfect for now. Such a lovely combination of flavours too.
leaf
So very charming! Kind of a half-dessert, half-savoury snack.
Bev @ Bev Cooks
I still need to come by for a spell and see you!
I think the light is gawgeous in these shots. And I’d really like to rub that goat cheese all over my face right this instant.
Cara
I was going to say – how perfect for this time of year, combining the end of summer with the beginning of fall into one delicious little bite!
Ala
Crostinis sound like an amazing indulgence right about now. I totally get the same way about my small-bite peanut butter and apple “snacks” (what? who ate the entire jar when I wasn’t looking?). Guess I’ll have to give these a go-go–thanks for sharing!
TARTESANDCARO
I love the idea to eat my favorite fruit with a cheese !
you have fabulous idea
i test tomorrow for the lunch
Eileen
These crostini sound like an amazing way to eat the last great fruit of summer–and the first of fall. I love it!
Ashley
This looks so fresh and lovely, Kate! The perfect light meal! I’m off to a wedding this weekend, so I think I’ll be in need of some light eating come Monday.
Stefanie @ Sarcastic
Nothing at all wrong with eating copious amounts of bread and cheese! It’s all in the job, right?!? I’m glad you had to “suffer” through for us to find these amazing flavor combos!
sandra
I feel for your lack of reliable sunshine. Glad to know I’m not the only one precariously placing fragile objects on teetering ledges for that one little bit of light. I applaud your temerity.
Amy @ Food Crush
What a stunning combination. I have some goat’s cheese and raspberries in my fridge, so I’m going to give this one a try.
Katherine Sacks
Cheese and fruit, what a great pair! Looks wonderful as always, you are such an inspiration! I have been seriously craving figs and cheese right now, but raspberries sounds lovely as well.
Kate
Thank you, Katherine! I have had the hardest time finding ripe figs here in the Midwest. I’m about ready to give up on them!
Katrina
This looks fabulous! Awesome idea!
Cathy @ Noble Pig
And this is why as food bloggers we can never get rid of those last five pounds…all those samples…sounds fun and delicious!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Beautiful, a perfect appetizer! I’m loving the morning light too.
Riley
What a great combination! This looks wonderful!
Beth {local milk}
We did some moving over the weekend (him in with me “officially”)… and we are talking about a guy who had minimal wordly possessions other than a veritable library. In short, that was easy on the scale of moving. If I had to undertake what you have it would throw me off for a month. At the very, very least. Fruit. Cheese. Honey. Toast. I’m pretty sure that combo is the result of the entirety of humanity’s gustatory experience. Sounds awesome. & sunlight is a capricious mistress, alas!
Squash Blossom Babie
What a great combination of flavors. I would never have thought to add the raspberry! I love it!
Laura
Crostini and cheese is the devil seriously. It always starts as this light snack thing and surprise! There I am lying on the couch, ready to pass out from so. much. cheese. Ultimately a good thing. These photos are lovely, seems like you’re hitting your photographic stride in the new place just fine :)
Frederike
I’ve always loved the goats cheese and fruit combo. I like to combine it with apple, pear, strawberries, pears and grapes. Your photos just scream deliciousness so now I want to eat it! Yum:)
sweet road
Whoa. These are some of the greatest ingredients stuffed into one tiny appetizer… I need it.
Kasey
Yikes! Sorry to hear the new space is still taking some time getting used to. I get super frustrated when I feel like I’m out of counter space, or am running out of time to shoot in daylight. But, I’m sure you’ll figure it all out – after all, these pictures are beautiful! Glad to see you back here and hope you are enjoying KC!
Kate
Thanks, Kasey! xo!
Julia
Pretty photos! I saw somebody else’s photo on FoodGawker and then their site led me to your site. :)
sarah
These look so good – I love pears in anything. And your photos are lovely! Good light can be tricky – I have the same problem in my house; it’s taken me forever to figure out what rooms at what time. And then the seasons change and so does the schedule. [Should I tag this first world problems, ha?] I hope you have a lovely fall in your new place.
Jess @ Cheese Please
These look divine, thanks for sharing them! Even if lightening wasn’t ideal, they look beautiful and your photo’s make me wish I had them right now! If it makes you feel any better, I curse the lightening in my place all the time!! :)
Anne
I’m happy to have run across your blog! I’m always searching for recipes like this that are very simple, unique, and delicious. And- I made this recipe but found other recipes you posted with similar ingredients- so a little went a long way. Keep up the good work!
Kate
I’m happy you found my blog, Anne! Hope you enjoy the other recipes, I’d love to hear your feedback on them!
Silvia
This morning I was frantically running around the kitchen in desperate search for a healthy lunch to pack. So you saved me! It took me 4 minutes to prep all of this and take it to-go. Now I’m sitting quietly at my desk waiting for lunch time. Is it here yet?
Kate
Hope you enjoyed your lunch today, Silvia! Glad my crostini could come to the rescue. :)
adrienne
Sounds lovely! I hear ya on extravagant wedding weekends. We had one last weekend, another tomorrow, and one in two weeks. Phew!
Monique @ Ambitious
This is sensational; I love pears and raspberries together!