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While I’m busy working and traveling, I have some fabulous guest bloggers sharing their best recipes with you. Today, Jen with Carlsbad Cravings, is sharing her Toasted Cream Cheese Feta Bruschetta today, just one example of her delicious, unique recipes and absolutely drop dead gorgeous photography! In addition, her writing and personal story are so well written, you will feel like you have known her for years. Be sure to follow Jen on her blog, Carlsbad Cravings and Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Hello all! My name Jen and I am the recipe creator and photographer at Carlsbad Cravings. I am so honored Michele asked me to guest post on Flavor Mosaic! I absolutely love Michele’s recipes and the unique flavorful spin she puts on all her recipes! I want to sink my teeth into everything she makes!
Before I tell you about me, I thought I would tell you about this picture – because sometimes accidents turn into a creative springboard! So my husband, Patrick, had taken our camera to work and when he returned it that night, I didn’t check the settings before I started shooting this bruschetta – rookie mistake! About half way through, I realized the ISO was super high, which meant many of my pictures would be grainy. When I saw this grainy picture afterwards, I really liked the composition and still wanted to use it, so Patrick had the brilliant idea of turning the background black and white! And now you can focus solely on the deliciousness that is this post – Toasted Cream Cheese Feta Bruschetta with Caesar Balsamic Cucumbers and Tomatoes! 
Now a little about me – I grew up an avid foodie which evolved into creating my own recipes – printing them out and indexing them in cute binders (yes there are many) that I even created recipe indexes for. After my kidney transplant in October 2013, I had more energy than I had had in years, so I decided to invest my renewed energy in sharing my creations with the rest of the world, so I started Carlsbad Cravings in February 2014. 
With a background in interior design, cooking is my creative outlet! I like to put my creative spin on everything I make like this bruschetta and my Angel Food Cake French Toast with Cream Cheese and Strawberry Syrup! 
My goal is for every recipe to be very best it can be with layers of flavor, texture and spices while still being simple to prepare. I especially love layering the texture and spices in Asian cuisine (like my popular Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pineapple, Carrots and Bell Peppers) and Mexican cuisine (like my Salsa Verde Honey Lime Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas). 
So now that you know a little bit about me, I am excited for you to get to know this bruschetta! I had a hard time trying to decide what to share with you, but finally landed upon my bruschetta because its delicious, summery, easy to prepare, has my own tasty unique spin – and who doesn’t love cream cheese?! and better yet, melted cream cheese?! I used to giddily anticipate our work staff meetings when I would toast my bagel and smear it with cream cheese that would melt from the warmth – SO delectable! I wanted to savor every bite then and now, it just got better… 
Oven toasted French bread smeared with velvety, warm cream cheese and feta, topped with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, anaheim peppers, basil and green onions, all lightly tossed with a marriage of creamy Caesar dressing and balsamic vinegar. 
Every creamy, crispy, cool and refreshing bite is satisfyingy delicious!!! I could eat the cream cheese toast for days by itself, I could eat the Caesar balsamic cucumbers and tomatoes for days by itself. Layer the two together and you have the most perfect summer appetizer, lunch or side or snack! 
I am super excited for you to make this Toasted Cream Cheese Feta Bruschetta with Caesar Balsamic Cucumbers and Tomatoes! And when you savor your first and last bite, and begin fantasizes about the next time you are going to sink your teeth into this vibrant bruschetta, thank Michele for letting me visit Flavor Mosaic!
Recipe
Toasted Cream Cheese Feta Bruschetta with Balsamic Caesar Cucumber and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 large French loaf sliced into 1/2" slices
- 6-8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ½ cup crumbled Feta
- Caesar Balsamic Cucumber Tomato Topping
- 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Caesar dressing
- 1 large cucumber sliced and quartered
- 4 roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 Anaheim pepper chopped with seeds separated
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 green onions chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar and the Caesar dressing together. Add the remaining Caesar Balsamic Cucumber Tomato Topping ingredients and toss to combine. Taste and add desired amount of anaheim pepper seeds if you want some heat. Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours, time permitting; otherwise, simply chill while you prepare the bread.
- Spread bread out on two ungreased baking sheets. Broil the first sheet (6-8 in. from the heat) for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and spread toasted slices with cream cheese then sprinkle with feta. Broil for 3 minutes or until cream cheese begins to brown. Repeat with second baking sheet of bread.*
- Top warm cream cheese feta bread with Cucumber Tomato Caesar Balsamic Topping.
- Best served warm.
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
Michele and Jen, Thanks for all the colorful #Veggies in this beautiful Bruschetta. Nicely done! 🙂
Tara says
Gorgeous post and delicious recipe!!!
Renee's Kitchen Adventures says
I love a good bruschetta and this one looks pretty darn good! Beautiful photos too!
Kecia says
What a fantastic guest post! I do love Jen’s recipe and yes, the photography, too! Enjoy your travels Michele!
shelby says
Looks so delicious! I love a bruschetta and can easily make it a meal instead of an appetizer!