I am so lucky that I have been able to travel the world, both in my younger years, and now with my husband and kids. It truly makes the world a little smaller and helps me appreciate all of the beautiful things about living in the United States and also the amazing cultures overseas.
One of the best blessings of being in a different country is to experience their food. It really is their food. We have OUR food here in the States. No one can BBQ like the U.S. or make a creamy mac and cheese, that’s all us – and it’s all good. But if I’m being honest, I love eating in other countries. I think my kids are most excited to visit Poland for the fresh pierogies. There’s nothing wrong with that.
A friend asked me just this morning if my kids have a wish list for some of the first things they want to do when we get back to Germany. They want to visit the bread vending machine at Aldi – no lie, my little one keeps talking about it. It’s the best invention – I wish we had one here. You choose your bread, press the button, and you have fresh bread delivered down the chute. They want the German pretzels, because who wouldn’t?
One of the best trips I was ever on was before I was married. I spent 3 months in Sicily in the spring and I could not have been more lucky. The food is simply amazing, only matched by the beautiful landscape and breathtaking views of Mt. Etna. Our Easter meal at a Sicilian restaurant seemed to take all day. I can’t even remember the number of courses, but we ate for hours, every dish more delicious than the next.
Every time we would go out for dinner, I would order bruschetta. I’ve not been silent about my love of tomatoes and bread, but Sicily is where it started. There was one particular restaurant I would frequent that made a simple bruschetta, but it was so good. Tomatoes, scallions, olive oil, salt, and pepper. When you use fresh, in season ingredients, you don’t need anything else. The flavor of the tomato can stand alone when it’s ripened in the sun.
If the big tomatoes in your grocery store aren’t ripe, use cherry or grape tomatoes, the flavor is usually sweeter and actually tastes like a tomato. An unripe tomato doesn’t really taste like anything at all – don’t waste a good bruschetta on a bad tomato.
Sicilian Bruschetta
Author: Sarah Pflugradt
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Sliced baguette
- 4 cups quartered cherry tomatoes
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Slice baguette and place on a plate
- Add the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix together
- To make the bruschetta, add a spoonful of tomatoes to a slice of bread and eat
NotesYou may toast the baguette if you wish.