Goat Cheese Caprese Poppers

By Adam Lariviere, YMCA Skills Instructor/Chef

Makes 15 – 20 bite-sized snacks

Ingredients:

• 1 pint Red Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 pint Yellow Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 bunch Fresh Basil (leaves only)
• 100 g Goat Cheese (soft, unripened)
• As needed Olive Oil
• As needed Salt and Pepper

Preparation:

1. Wash and cut the cherry tomatoes in half widthwise (across the middle, not top to bottom).
2. Toss the cherry tomatoes in a small amount of olive oil and season them with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that the cut side is facing up.
4. Dry the tomatoes in an oven at 225°F for 2-3 hours (they should be a little chewy like a raisin, but still have some moisture).
5. Remove the tomatoes from the oven and allow them to cool.
6. To make the poppers, stack 3 dried cherry-tomato-halves on top of each other, alternating red and yellow, with a small amount (about 1/4 tsp) of goat cheese in between each piece of tomato.
7. To finish the poppers, place another small amount of goat cheese on the top of the stack of tomatoes and press a small basil leaf into the goat cheese so it stays in place (note: if the basil leaves are large, tear them with your fingers to make smaller pieces).