The "Go To" Holiday Appetizer

A friend of mine is going to a neighborhood get together this week-end.  She e-mailed me this morning asking for a good appetizer recipe.  She gets together with her neighbors often and has grown tired of making the same appetizers all the time.  I know most of us have been in that situation.  I mean you can only make your famous onion dip or famous mini meatballs a certain amount of times before you grow weary of it!  A few years ago I made the best appetizer for a New Year's Eve get together we had at our place:
Roast Beef Crostini With Roasted Red Pepper Mayo.  I have made them a several times since then and everyone loves them!  If I bring them to someone else's party I am always asked for the recipe.  I am sharing this recipe with you in hopes that this can be your "go to" appetizer recipe for the upcoming holiday season!

ROAST BEEF CROSTINI WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER MAYO 

• 36 slices baguette bread or french bread (1/2 inch thick)
• olive oil
• 2/3 cup (about 3) home-made  roasted red peppers or 1 - 15 oz. jar roasted red peppers
• 1/3 cup mayo
• 1 garlic clove
• salt & pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs. deli roast beef (premium rare)
• 36 thin slices of Dill Havarti cheese (most blocks of this cheese are small may need two of them)

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
2. Arrange bread slices on two baking sheets.  Drizzle olive oil over the slices evenly.
3. Bake bread in oven for about 15 minutes or until a light golden color.
4. In the meantime make the mayo:  completely dry off the peppers to avoid the mayo becoming to watery.  Place peppers, mayo, garlic clove, salt and pepper in a blender.  Blend until smooth.
5. If the mayo is too thin place it in a bowl and whisk in more mayo one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.
6. Take the pre-baked bread slices and spread about 1/2 tablespoon red pepper mayo on top of each slice.  Place a slice of roast beef (folded) on top of mayo.  Place a slice of Dill Havarti on top of beef.
7. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for about 5 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. 
8. Serve immediately.