SLOW-ROASTED TOMATO & GARLIC BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Make the tomato topping. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Tumble the tomatoes onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Toss in the garlic. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir until well-coated. Bake until tomatoes have shrunken a bit and look almost dry around the edges, about 90 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool. Remove garlic from the pan. Squeeze cloves out onto a cutting board. Chop up the garlic (as much as you can; it will be soft). Add to a medium bowl.
• Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the tomatoes still on the cookie sheet. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, scrape up and stir the tomatoes, using the vinegar to help loosen up some of the dried-on tomato juices. Scrape tomatoes and juice into the bowl. Stir in basil and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Set aside.
• Make the toasts. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush a large cookie sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and lay the slices of bread on the sheet. Brush the tops of each slice with olive oil. Bake until golden brown around the edges, 7-9 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Rub each piece on both sides with cut sides of garlic.
• Serve. Spoon the tomatoes over the bread to serve, or set the bread and tomatoes on the appetizer table for guests to assemble themselves.