Always An Appetizer

My staple appetizer is a classic and easy one, as long as you have a few simple ingredients*:

Plum Tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella
Fresh Basil
Garlic Salt
Balsamic Glaze

Slice the tomatoes crosswise. Place on a nice dish and sprinkle the tomato slices with a dash of garlic salt (this is my special touch!). You don't want to over salt, but just enough to bring out the fresh flavor of the tomatoes. Next, add half a leaf of fresh basil. I picked mine fresh out of my herb garden, but you can buy them in the produce section of your local grocery store. Then slice a piece of fresh mozzarella into small cubes or slices, enough to cover most of the basil. Finally, drizzle a balsamic glaze on top to finish and enjoy!

*All of these items can be found at your local grocery store or Italian market. If you do not have access to fresh basil or balsamic glaze, you can improvise with a little balsamic vinegar (don't over saturate!) and dried basil sprinkled on top. I have used these when in a pinch! It is not as pretty or delicious, but still makes for a great and easy appetizer.