If your bracket is now busted, the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds of the tournament are an excuse to hang out with your friends. The second weekend of the tournament is made for eating, drinking, and watching as those remaining contenders in your bracket pool cheer with joy or curse their now busted bracket. Regardless of how your bracket is doing (mine was busted a long time ago), you will work up an appetite during these rounds.

For an afternoon/evening of basketball viewing, these Cheddar Chorizo Crostini are a winning dish. You can easily prep them before the game or the night before. They only take a few minutes in the oven to cook, making them perfect for a staggered service throughout the games. With spicy chorizo, crunchy bell peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese, these Crostini are a delicious snack to compliment Mach Madness.

Cheddar Chorizo Crostini
Serves 8

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
pinch (1/16 teaspoon) cayenne pepper
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
1 ½ cup Spanish chorizo, diced
30 slices of French bread
2 cups (8 ounces) Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
Parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place butter, garlic and cayenne pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a smooth compound butter has formed. Add bell pepper, pulse a few times until peppers are mixed into butter. Remove butter from processor and reserve.

Add chorizo to a sauté pan and cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Let cool.

Place slices of French bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Let cool.

Spread compound butter on toasted bread slices. Add Cheddar. Top with chorizo. Bake for2-5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Recipe © Sally James Mathis

Photography ©Taylor Mathis