A key to a successful tailgating season is to always serve a menu with variety and versatility. These buttered slices of french bread are covered in a rich and creamy blue cheese spread, then add roasted tomatoes or grapes.
By Taylor Mathis and Sally James
A key to a successful tailgating season is to always serve a menu with variety and versatility. Having dishes that can be used in different ways throughout the day and in different ways throughout the season will keep your guests coming back to every game eager to take a bite out of your tailgating spread. When it comes to appetizers, you may think that offering variety means a lot more work in the kitchen. This is not the case with these French Bread Crisps. These buttered slices of french bread are covered in a rich and creamy blue cheese spread. On top, you can add either roasted grape tomatoes or roasted grapes! Serve both at your tailgate for variety or serve tomatoes at one game and then grapes at the next! 
These Crisps can be made either at home in your oven or cooked on site. If you plan on making them at the tailgate, there are modified instruction in the recipe.
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Toasted Baguette Appetizers with Roasted Grapes and Tomatoes
Description
Successful tailgate food should have variety and versatility. These bread slices covered in blue cheese spread with roasted tomatoes or grapes are just that
Ingredients
Crisps
- 1 loaf french bread
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Creamy Blue Cheese Spread
- 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Roasted Red Grapes
- (covers one recipe of french bread crisps)
- 3 cups red seedless grapes
- 2 Tablespoons chopped sweet yellow onions
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- *Optional 1 cup toasted chopped walnuts for garnish
Roasted Grape Tomatoes
- (covers one recipe of french bread crisps)
- 3 cups halved grape tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons chopped sweet yellow onions
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon thyme
- 8–10 strips of bacon cooked, drained on paper towels and crumbled
Instructions
Crisps
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the loaf of french bread into 1/2 inch thick slices. In a small bowl add the butter, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir until the ingredients are well blended.
- Spread one side of each piece of french bread with the butter spread and place the crisp butter side up on a baking sheet. Bake the french bread crisps for 20 minutes. Remove the crisps from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet. Use or store, covered for up to three days.
- If you are serving these at your tailgate, prepare them before game day and transport them in a sealed container to the game.
Creamy Blue Cheese Spread
- Put the blue cheese, cream cheese, heavy cream, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper into a small bowl. Stir until all of the ingredients are well blended. Spread a thin layer of blue cheese spread on top of each french bread crisp. Top with roasted grapes and/or roasted grape tomatoes. Serve
- If you are planning on serving at your tailgate, prepare the Creamy Blue Cheese Spread prior to game day and refrigerate. Transport in a sealed container placed inside a cooler to your tailgate. Be sure to pack a knife for spreading onto the French Bread Crisps.
Roasted Red Grapes
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the grapes, onions, oil, salt and pepper into a medium bowl. Stir the grapes until each grape is cover with seasoning and oil. Empty the grapes onto a baking sheet. Bake the grapes for 20 minutes, stirring them once, after they have been in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Let the grapes cool. Put grapes on top of each blue cheese covered crisp. If desired, top with walnuts. Serve.
- If you are planning on serving at your tailgate, prepare the grapes, oil, salt and pepper and refrigerate in a sealable container prior to game day. Transport in a cooler to your tailagte. Pack a metal sheet pan that will fit on your grill. At the tailgate, roast the grapes on the sheet pan over your grill. Stir frequently until grapes have blistered. While the grapes are blistering, spread an even layer of the Creamy Blue Cheese Spread over the crisps. Place roasted grapes on top of the crisps. Add walnuts if desired. Serve.
Roasted Grape Tomatoes
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the tomatoes, onions, oil, salt, pepper and thyme into a medium bowl. Stir the tomatoes until each one is covered with seasonings and oil. Empty the tomatoes onto a baking sheet. Bake the tomatoes for 20 minutes, stirring once, after they have been in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Let the tomatoes cool. Put the tomatoes and bacon on top of each blue cheese covered crisp. Serve.
- If you are planning on serving at your tailgate, prepare the tomatoes, onions, oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Refrigerate in a sealable container prior to game day. Transport in a cooler to your tailagte. Pack a metal sheet pan that will fit on your grill. At the tailgate, roast the tomatoes on the sheet pan over your grill. Stir frequently until tomatoes have blistered. While the tomatoes are cooking, spread an even layer of the Creamy Blue Cheese Spread over the crisps. Place roasted tomatoes and bacon on top of the crisps. Serve.
- Category: Appetizer
