Frugal Bruschetta is a delicious start to our meals but it can also save you money by filling up hungry tummies before a main meal. If tomatoes are in season, then this truly is a frugal starter – delicious and refreshing too!  I like to use sourdough bread for frugal bruschetta, but I usually buy it at the end of the day when it is on sale. As you will be toasting it anyway, it doesn’t matter if it isn’t super fresh! Now I do always suggest having a garden and then you’ll be flush with hopefully all these veggies and more!

Ingredients:
1 Sourdough Loaf Or French Bread Stick cut into thick slices 
3 large Tomatoes diced 
2 tsp Garlic crushed 
1 Red Onion diced 
1 tbsp Shallots sliced 
3 tbsp Olive Oil 
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

How I Make It:

Line up the slices of bread on a baking tray and toast very lightly on one side under the grill. Turn over the bread. Mix together the garlic and olive oil and lightly brush the top side of the bread with the mix. Place back under the grill and again very lightly toast the remaining side. Remove from the grill and allow to cool. (IF you don’t have a grill you can do the same steps using the broil option on your oven.) Add the finely chopped red onion and shallot.  Chop the tomatoes roughly and mix together in a bowl.  Splash with the balsamic vinegar (only enough to just 'dampen' the mix) and place a heaped tablespoon on each piece of toast. 

Tastes best when served immediately.

This is one of my favorite snacks and my kids love it too! Let me know how it comes out, or different variations used.