My favorite time of the year is Autumn, with the promise of brisk mornings, crackling fires, and dinner parties. It means Thanksgiving is growing near, my favorite holiday spent among loved ones from near and far. I adore having the whole family together in the kitchen, sharing, laughing, cooking. I am so grateful that this year most of my Dad’s family can travel to Arizona to celebrate the holiday with us.

My family typically enjoys many of the same Thanksgiving dishes every year, but we often like to shake it up a bit- especially with the appetizers. Sunset Magazine is our favorite source of inspiration, but we often draw insight from other origins as well, including restaurants and favorite dishes.

One of my most favorite appetizers is the crostini. Similar to bruschetta in style, a crostini can don any topping, and the possibilities are endless. One of my favorite places in Phoenix has the best bruschetta with a myriad of toppings to choose from, and the most inspiring to me is their brie with apples and fig preserves. My family also adores it, so I decided to bring it home, into our kitchen, to share with our out of town guests.

The idea behind this sweet and satisfying appetizer is simple, but the flavors are huge. It can be made for a festive dinner appetizer or as a weekday snack; either way it is equally special and delicious. These disappear very quickly in our home, especially with family and friends hanging around on the holidays. I hope that you and your loved ones enjoy just as much as we do!

Apple, Brie and Fig Crostini

Makes 18-25 Crostinis, Depending on length of baguette

Ingredients

1 baguette

2 Granny smith apples

1/2 a small round of soft brie (we like Alouette Baby Brie)

Fig Preserves

Olive oil

Fresh black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice baguette into 1/2 inch slices, brush with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven, turning once, until lightly golden brown. Remove toasts from the oven and let cool.

Thinly slice the apples and set aside. Slice the brie into pieces to fit each toast. When the toasts have cooled enough to handle, spread each one with fig jam, layer on a slice or two of brie, and one to two slices of apple to cover. Drizzle each one with a small amount of olive oil, and finish with freshly cracked pepper.

Enjoy! Expect more Autumn and Thanksgiving-inspired recipes to follow as the season and holiday approach us.

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