Cranberry Crostini

Ingredients

• 1 small loaf of crusty whole grain bread, sliced into ½-inch thick slices
• 2+ tablespoons olive oil
• sea salt
• 10 ounces goat cheese, preferably at room temperature (Brie, ricotta, or cream cheese would be fine substitutes)
• ½ cup+ honey
• ½ cup water
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
• Zest of 1 orange (orange part only), divided

Instructions

1. Toast the bread: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly brush both sides of each slice of bread with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle the slices with salt. Toast the bread in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway, until the slices are lightly golden on both sides. Set the pan aside to cool.
2. Make the cranberry sauce: Rinse the cranberries and toss any squishy ones. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring ½ cup water, honey, cinnamon, cloves and allspice to a gentle boil. Add the cranberries and cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes or until the cranberries have popped and the sauce is starting to look, well, saucy. Remove from heat and stir in about two-thirds of the orange zest.
3. Assemble the crostini: Top each slice of toast with a generous spread of cheese, then cranberry sauce and a light sprinkle of orange zest. Serve.