Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Bruschetta with Queso Fresco {the food matters project}

On Saturday night I attempted to intervene my way into my brother's 23rd birthday party but after watching him throw back his sixth tequila shot and feeling compelled to stick my finger down his throat before he went to a bar to imbibe even more (why delay the inevitable, really?), I realized.

I'm just too old for this.



This was also after listening to his friends discuss, with solemnity and intense focus, the meaning of the word "starship" in Nicki Minaj's eponymous hit single.

Conclusion - a certain male sexual organ.

Perhaps I'm a bit naive, but Nicki!  Really?  Why?!?!?

I had such idealistic and celibate hopes for that one.  And I just kind of really wanted it to be about partying in outer space.  Is that so wrong? 



So I left at midnight, thoroughly disturbed both by my brother's seemingly unending alcohol tolerance (especially considering my own one drink maximum) and by the fact that nothing exists in this world without sexual innuendo anymore.

Not to mention that he used one of the margarita cupcakes that I made for him as a tequila shot chaser.  (Is NOTHING sacred?!?!?)   

And decided that from now on, when I want to intervene, I have to do it on my own terms.

And my own terms always involve stuffing him with oodles and oodles of vegetables.  Always.

So to Mother's Day, I brought this bruschetta.

And though he claimed that he wasn't hungover in the slightest (I think his exact words were, "I mean, really Joanne. I only threw up water."), he also hadn't eaten anything all day.  And so he shoveled these crostini down faster than he did the shots the night before.

Intervention accomplished?  I think yes.



This bruschetta is sweet salty spicy and chock full of veggie goodness.  Plus it's covered in queso fresco.  Win.  I think it would be just about ideal for any upcoming spring/summer barbecues or parties.  But if you just want to sit at home and spoon it out of the bowl and into your mouth with a spoon...I'll totally understand that as well.

For this week's Food Matters Project recipe, we were making bruschetta.  I kind of just went in my own direction with it and didn't really listen to any of Bittman's suggestions.  For more bruschetta ideas, check out the FMP website and for the original recipe, check out Laura's blog!



Roasted Vegetable Bruschetta with Queso Fresco
Makes 1 1/2 quarts, adapted from Dana Treat

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 ears of corn, husk and silk removed and kernels cut into a bowl
• 1 large red onion, sliced thinly
• 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
• 2 large red bell peppers
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 orange bell pepper
• 4 kumato tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 oz kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 baguette
• queso fresco

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 450.  In a large bowl, toss together the corn kernels and red onion slices with 1 tbsp olive oil, the chipotle chili powder, and a sprinkle of salt.  Put on a parchment lined baking pan and roast for 20-25 minutes or until onion is cooked and caramelized.  Remove and set aside.
2. Place bell peppers on a second parchment lined baking pan and roast for 30 minutes, turning over once halfway through.  Remove from the oven and place immediately in a covered bowl or paper bag shut tightly for 10 minutes.  Peel off skin, remove seeds, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. 
3. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, peppers, corn and onion.  Stir in olives, garlic, cumin and lime juice.  Season with salt and pepper.  Let the vegetables marinate for at least one hour and up to six hours.  Serve on top of sliced baguette and top with queso fresco crumbles.