Perfect Christmas Appetizer

Over the Christmas holiday, I made the perfect festive appetizer...Basil white bean crostinis with crispy prosciutto sprinkled on top. It creates a green and red delicious bite size app to enjoy (and not feel guilty or over stuffed prior to the big meal!)

Ingredients:
1 French baguette
1 can cannellini beans
fresh basil leaves
shredded parmesan cheese
olive oil
lemon juice
salt & pepper

The process is simple: thinly slice a loaf of French baguette, drizzle a little olive oil on a sheet pan and on top of the bread slices and put in the oven at 350°F. Bake the crostinis until they are lightly golden brown and crispy. On another sheet pan, crinkle four slices of prosciutto and bake in the oven until crispy (crinkle the slices so there are waves and the slice is not laying completely flat otherwise it will get stuck). Put that sheet in the oven with the crostinis. While the crostinis and prosciutto are baking in the oven, you prepare the dip. In a food processor, combine one can of cannellini beans, 1.5 cups of basil leaves, 1 tbsp of shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1-2 tbsp lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Combine all of these in the processor until a thick, smooth consistency is achieved.

Now the set up: Take the crostinis and prosciutto out of the oven. Take a spoon full of the basil bean dip and spread it on the baked crostinis. Once you have done this for all of the crostinis, arrange them on a decorative plate/serving tray, sprinkle little bits of the crispy prosciutto on top and serve!

If you're a salt lover, this is a great healthy and light appetizer to serve. The prosciutto when baked, has an even saltier taste to it. A bite of the prosciutto with the basil and white bean dip, you will be in heaven!