Southern and French Fusion: Mini Tomato Tarts

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Since moving to Charleston, I've discovered the deliciousness that is Southern Lowcountry cuisine, and even had some fun making it. I've tried my hand at she crab soup; my macaroni and cheese is off the charts; and you haven't lived until you've tried shrimp toast.  With its Southern and French influences (just like in the city of Charleston), it seemed only fitting to make my next recipe a tomato tart!  Making them the perfect appetizer for holiday entertaining, I made my tomato tarts miniature.

With winter upon us, I decided to make my recipe with ingredients I can find all year round at my local Walmart that will still give a fresh taste: Hunt's canned tomatoes paired with fresh garlic and herbs.  These are fantastic ways to help save time with stress-free recipe creation this holiday season.

Ingredients:
- 1 can Hunt's Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes
- 2 gloves minced garlic
- fresh-cracked pepper
- fresh thyme
- PAM cooking spray
- puff pastry sheet
- brie cheese
- one egg

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a saucepan, combine the can of tomatoes (sauce and whole tomatoes), minced garlic, cracked pepper, and the stripped leaves from 3 thyme sprigs.
3. Cook the tomato mixture over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
4. While the tomatoes are cooking, assemble the tart shells by rolling out a puff pastry sheet to double its original size or 1-2 mm thick.
5. Completely spray a mini muffin pan with PAM to keep any part of the tartlets from sticking.
6. Use a mason jar lid to cut circles out of the puff pastry, and lay the circles into the mini muffin pan, pushing them into the bottom of each cup.
7. By this point, the tomatoes should be cooked.  Using a potato masher, crush the tomatoes in the sauce until no large pieces remain.
8. Strain out all of the pieces of tomato so that little liquid remains, and spoon about a teaspoon of tomato into each puff pastry cup.
9. Once all tomato cups are filled, top each of them with a small slice of brie and a thyme leaf.
10. Finish off the tarts by brushing any exposed puff pastry with whisked egg to help them brown up in the oven.
11. Bake the tartlets in the oven for about 8 minutes.  After they're done, take them out in the oven and leave them in the pan for an additional 5 minutes to make sure they keep their shape before serving!

Using ingredients like Hunt's and PAM from ConAgra, hosting a Christmas party this year can be simple and delicious.  Find more easy recipes that are perfect for holiday entertaining by visiting Yes You Can Recipes!

• What is your favorite party appetizer?
• Are you hosting a holiday get-together this year?