Oh my. You know a recipe hits it out of the park when a certain family octogenarian (my dad) comes over mid-party prep and can’t stop eating it. That’s the problem with appetizers, right? If they’re good, only half of them make it to your guests! (LOL I’m passing the blame on my father, but let’s be truthful here, I’m just as guilty. Just make more. Problem solved.) These Roasted Pepper Crostini are made with sweet mini peppers that have been halved, stuffed with salty capers, sweet cherry tomatoes, and buttery California Ripe Olives, and roasted on a bed of balsamic-tossed sliced red onions. When the peppers are done, you top toasted baguette slices first with the caramelized onions and then with the stuffed roasted peppers. Every bite yields a crunchy, juicy flavor explosion! California Ripe Olives are perfect for this dish because their mild, buttery, meaty flavor balances the acidity from the tomatoes, capers, and onions. The olives are also like sponges–they absorb flavor from peppers, tomatoes, and capers during the cooking process. Why California Ripe Olives? Forgive me for being just a little proud of my home state. The answer is quality. Here in California there are thousands of acres of olive trees planted throughout the state–north, central, and south–that provide the olives for the ripe olive industry. Olives trees are particularly well-suited for the Mediterranean climate of California. The trees are drought resistant, can thrive in less than ideal soils, and love our long, hot summers. In fact, California produces 95% of the olives grown in the United States. Most of the ripe olive farms are owned and operated by families who have been farming the olives for generations. To achieve the high standards of quality needed for canned olives, the fruit must be picked by hand with care, never touching the soil. When it comes to processing the olives, every step is regulated by the USDA to ensure quality. Back to our crostini! You can easily make the peppers and toast the bread ahead of time. You can even assemble the crostini an hour or two ahead. This appetizer works served warm or at room temperature. My one piece of advice? Make extra. This appetizer is best served at room temperature. Spread the onions out over the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pour 1 cup of water or stock onto the onions in the baking dish. Set pepper halves on top of the sliced onions in the baking pan, hollow side facing up. Place a few thyme sprigs among the peppers. Drizzle the peppers with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Remove the foil and return the peppers to the top shelf of the oven for 10 to 15 more minutes, until the peppers have started to brown at the edges. If the bottom of the pan becomes dry at any time, pour in a little more water. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the thyme sprigs. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish the platter with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
