The care you trust. Right here and just right for you.
The relationships you’ve built with your Liberty Hospital Primary Care providers remain at the heart of our commitment and the center of your care. What’s growing is the size and strength of the team behind us.
Liberty Hospital is part of The University of Kansas Health System, which means your primary care team connects you to more than 1,500 specialists and subspecialists ready to complement the care you already receive.
Together, we provide the premier care you count on every day, and now it’s part of something greater. We’re not just bringing world-class healthcare to the Northland – we’re bringing it right to you.
This is where health happens: libertyhospital.org/primarycare
A month of transition
Dear Northland City Lifestyle Readers,
As we welcome the month of May, I’m delighted to share our latest issue with you. Inside, you’ll discover a feature on Atlas9, an immersive art experience newly arrived in the Kansas City metro, along with an inspiring profile of sports commissioner Kathy Nelson as Kansas City prepares to take the global stage for the World Cup. We also shine a spotlight on Sabrina Denny, owner of The Exercise Coach, whose innovative offerings and soccer-rooted background are helping others build strength and confidence in meaningful ways.
This issue holds special significance for me, as it will be my final one as owner and publisher of Northland City Lifestyle
Over this chapter of my life, the magazine has become so much more than a publication — it has been a meaningful way to connect, celebrate, and uplift the people and businesses that make our community thrive. It has truly been a privilege to tell these stories and to be part of something so special.
At the same time, life has a way of calling us forward. I’ve recently experienced a personal pivot that is leading me to step away from this role and into what’s next.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to you. our readers, for your continued support, engagement, and loyalty. To our partners, contributors, and local businesses, thank you for your trust and for helping bring each issue to life. This community is truly extraordinary, and it has been an honor to serve you.
I am also pleased to introduce Ann Bruening, who will be stepping in as the new owner of Northland City Lifestyle. I have full confidence in her vision and leadership, and I know she will continue to grow and elevate this publication in exciting ways.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. It has meant more than words can express.
At Tiger Pool and Patio, we’re dedicated to turning your everyday spaces into extraordinary retreats. Our mission is to offer a VIP customer experience that makes your journey with us exceptional from start to finish. We recognize that your outdoor area is an extension of your lifestyle, and we’re here to help you craft a personalized oasis that mirrors your distinctive style and preferences. Partner with us to create a space that truly reflects your dream backyard oasis.
Sunset Yoga at The Practice
Enjoy free outdoor Sunset Yoga on the last Sunday of each month from May through September at 6 p.m. at The Practice. This gentle, beginner-friendly class invites participants to move and breathe together while enjoying the evening sunset in the studio’s outdoor green space. Bring a mat or blanket and dress comfortably. Registration and a signed waiver are required. Learn more at thepractice-studio.com
Enter the
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
KATIE CURRID
Immersive experience
Atlas9 defies description
Reel World
Before visiting Atlas9, I was really not sure what I was getting myself into — and honestly, that was part of the fun. I convinced my husband to go with me and our three kids (ages 8, 6 and 2) on a free afternoon for an invited press visit, and when he asked what exactly we were doing, I, frankly, didn’t really know. Because Atlas9 is such a unique experience, I will say it’s still hard to describe it, but it’s like an immersive escape room mixed with an art experience time warp. It’s like The Rabbit hOle meets Meow Wolf meets escape room — in the best possible way.
Atlas9, located in the Legends area of Kansas City, Kansas, describes itself as a “46,000-square-foot “containment” building [that surrounds] a transformed 1990s movie theater that shifts into a “living” cinematic universe.” The immersive space was created by KC-based Dimensional Innovations, partnering with Swell Spark for operations and Quixotic for live performances. Upon entering, you are essentially stepping foot into a different world, where a 90s-era movie theater (not an actual one — Dimensional Innovations built it from the ground up) has undergone something mysterious and all of the movies inside are coming to life.
Once you enter, you’re given a debrief by a FACADE agent, the fictional secret government institution behind the goings-on at Atlas9 (FACADE stands for Field Agency for the Control of Aberrations and Divergent Energies). Each visitor is given an RFID bracelet, which you can scan throughout the theater. It gamifies the experience a bit, as you build levels within the FACADE agency and track what you have and haven’t done through each scan. You can even interact with the space, as AI-generated images of visitors, created entirely on a local network that Atlas9
manages, are dynamically presented in digital movie posters and interactive exhibits throughout the experience (usually, I think AI-generated imagery is really gimmicky, but the application here works well).
We loved exploring the different rooms in Atlas9, from the fictional staff break room and office to the fascinating 1920s-era jazz club complete with a live performance. Our kids loved opening up doors and drawers to find surprises behind them or discovering secret tunnels to crawl through.
I was especially appreciative of the level of detail throughout Atlas9, and the employed actors, artists and dancers throughout the space. Every employee in the space is a part of
IT'S LIKE AN IMMERSIVE ESCAPE ROOM
MIXED WITH AN ART
EXPERIENCE TIME WARP.
IT'S LIKE THE RABBIT HOLE MEETS MEOW WOLF MEETS ESCAPE ROOM — IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
the experience, and collective Quixotic also performs once an hour — one performance in the movie theater (where Atlas9 also does theatrical movie showings) and one in the jazz club.
You also don’t have to let hunger impede your time in Atlas9, either — there’s a movie theater concession stand, of course (with the best period-accurate 90s movie theater carpet), as well as a hidden speakeasy bar, The SpeakerEasy. There’s also a full restaurant on site, Splice Bros. Pizza & Pub, which you can visit without admission.
The best part about Atlas9 is that you can be as involved as you want (or are able) in the FACADE quest. With three kids to chase, we definitely didn’t solve the Atlas9 mystery as thoroughly as we would’ve liked, but it absolutely didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the experience, as we loved interacting with the space, exploring and marveling at the impressive installations. Plus, it really was the rare instance of being fun for every member of our family — as much as I love children’s museums, it’s not something I would pick for my own entertainment, but Atlas9 was equally enjoyable for the adults as well as the kids (and I think teens would love it even more).
IT REALLY WAS THE RARE INSTANCE OF BEING ENJOYABLE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY — AS MUCH AS I LOVE CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS, IT’S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD PICK FOR MY OWN ENTERTAINMENT, BUT ATLAS9 WAS EQUALLY ENJOYABLE FOR THE ADULTS AS WELL AS THE KIDS.
If you’re not sure what to expect from Atlas9 — well, that’s part of the fun. I won’t spoil it too much before you go, but know it’s worth a visit!
Atlas9
1100 N 98th St, Kansas City, Kansas (913) 708-8081
atlas9.com
Instagram: @atlas9.kc
Your Footing FINDING
The Exercise Coach's balance program is helping clients stay steady, confident, and independent — at every age
ARTICLE BY KATIE CURRID | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH SCHREINER
Most of us don’t think about balance until we lose it. A stumble on the stairs. A moment of hesitation stepping off a curb. The quiet, creeping worry that a grocery run might go sideways — literally.
But Sabrina Denny, owner and coach at The Exercise Coach in Liberty, thinks about balance every day. It’s not just a fitness metric for her. It’s the foundation of independence.
“Our mission — everything we strive to do — is to transform the way people age,” Sabrina says. Strength training has always been central to The Exercise Coach’s approach, but over time, she kept hearing the same thing from clients — “I really want to improve my balance.” Her solution was adding an entire balance program.
The Balance Transformation Program at The Exercise Coach is a comprehensive, multi-system program built around the Exerbotic Balance Tracker — a connected technology platform that places users on an unstable surface and guides them through balance and cognitive challenges simultaneously.
The machine targets three distinct systems: the vestibular system (the inner ear that senses head movement and orientation), the visual system (how the body processes visual input to maintain stability), and the proprioceptive system (spatial awareness). Through targeted exercises on a single platform, the program trains each of these systems — and the connections between them.
“We know from the research that balance and cognition are very interdependent,” Sabrina says. “So there are also dual-task cognition drills that we’ll also do — working on memory, reaction time, corrective agility.”
Sessions on the tracker are woven into a broader program that also includes strength training, cardio, nutrition guidance, and for some clients, coach-assisted stretching. The idea is that muscles need to be strong enough to sustain balance, and the brain and body need to be working in sync.
“We’ve got to get the brain and the muscles working together,” she says.
Sabrina describes three distinct groups who have found their way to the Balance Transformation Program. The first is adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who have started to notice some decline in their stability — not a fall risk yet, but enough of a shift to prompt concern. They’re looking to get ahead of it, to take action while they still can.
“Typically, what we’ll hear initially is, ‘I want to make sure I can take care of myself, I want to make sure I can stay at home as I age,’” Sabrina says. “The thing that, a lot of times, is the catalyst for someone not being able to live on their own is when they start falling.”
The Balance Transformation Program seeks to get ahead of that.
The second group is more athletically motivated: recreational athletes — skiers, water skiers, soccer players — who want the agility and quick-adjustment ability to perform better. Sabrina knows this from personal experience. After getting the Balance Tracker last summer, she went water skiing with her sister in August — something she’d only done once before — and found herself staying upright.
“I personally couldn’t believe how much it impacted my ability to stay upright on the water skis,” she says. “It’s not just for people who have the age-related decline of balance. It can really just help with everyday agility and movements.”
The third demographic is people with cognitive concerns — those with a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s, or clients managing Parkinson’s disease.
“There’s a lot of good research out showing the benefits of training balance to improve cognition,” Sabrina says. This research includes the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during training — what Sabrina describes as
Always a Soccer Player
Sabrina Denny started playing soccer at age 10. She played goalkeeper through high school, until a series of concussions prompted her to change positions, primarily playing center midfielder through her college years at William Jewell. After graduation, she stayed in the game through adult leagues and travel tournaments, and spent a decade with Youth Rise, a nonprofit using soccer as a mentorship tool for disadvantaged youth in Kansas City's Northeast neighborhood. There, Sabrina worked with kids from more than 30 nationalities and, at times, seven languages were being spoken on the field. "What's cool is soccer is kind of that unifying language," she says.
As the World Cup comes to Kansas City this summer, she'll be cheering loud for Team USA.
“Our mission — everything we strive to do — is to transform the way people age.”
“essentially Miracle-Gro for the brain” — which helps protect against cognitive decline.
With the addition of the Balance Transformation Program in her studio, Sabrina has seen clients benefit from the training firsthand. One of Sabrina’s clients, Shirley, is 88 years old and lives at home with her husband, who is a leg amputee, which means she is the sole caregiver for both of them. Her children brought her to The Exercise Coach out of concern — she was struggling with strength and stability, and the family worried she was going to fall trying to get in and out of her car to run errands.
Three months into the Balance Transformation Program and the change has been striking. Shirley now feels confident going out, making trips to the store on her own, and navigating stairs she had previously avoided.
“She used to avoid going into her basement just because she was scared of falling on the stairs,” Sabrina says. “But now she’s able to go up and down them with no problem and not feel like she’s going to have that instability or where she’s going to fall. It’s really allowed her specifically to stay in the home with her husband and keep doing the things they want to do on a daily basis.”
But Shirley’s’s transformation has been more than just tackling stairs.
“It’s how we’ve seen her confidence grow,” Sabrina says. “She just has this confidence about her now that lights up a room anytime she walks in. She’s gone from feeling like, ‘Is my destiny just to not be able to do things anymore?’ to now she’s out and about, running errands, going on walks with her kids and grandkids. She just has that joy back in her life.”
The Balance Transformation Program at The Exercise Coach in Liberty begins with a full assessment, including movement evaluation, balance and cognitive baselines, and strength testing, followed by a customized plan. Two complimentary intro sessions are available for new clients. To try it for yourself, you can find The Exercise Coach online at exercisecoach.com/liberty, via phone at (816) 792-5800 or at 6 Westowne Drive, Suite #602 in Liberty.
HISPANICHEADQUARTERSMATCH
5 0 2 . 2 9 5 . 2 2 5 1 h a n n a h s c h r e i n e r p h o t o g r a p h y . c o m
Sunset Yoga Under the Open Sky Free & All Are Welcome
KATHY NELSON Plays to Win
HOW A PROUD NORTHLANDER BROUGHT THE WORLD CUP TO KC
ARTICLE BY DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE N. MEYER
Kathy Nelson gets asked a lot of questions these days, often from people in Europe, in South America and places in between. But one question that made her megawatt smile widen a bit more was about her favorite band.
“It’s the Winnetonka High School Marching Band, of course,” Kathy responds without hesitation. A 1986 graduate of Winnetonka, Kathy played the flute and piccolo, which she still has in a closet of her Northland home.
You don’t know Kathy Nelson? If you did, you would remember. And she would definitely remember you. That’s one of her many gifts – recalling almost every person she has ever met and greeting them with the warmth of a lifelong friendship.
You might have heard that the FIFA World Cup is coming to Kansas City next month. Thank Kathy Nelson for that. She will object and point to people like Clark Hunt, owner of the Chiefs, and Cliff Illig, who previously owned Sporting KC, and hundreds of talented individuals who have worked tirelessly for nearly a decade to bring this once-in-a-generation experience to our city.
But Kathy Nelson, this proud Northlander, has been at the center of it all.
“I was very confident in our message of uniting a region, a united Missouri and Kansas, as we are uniting 11 U.S. cities and three countries in this bid, but I still couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I tell people that we are the heart of America and everything we do is from the heart.”
Kathy is a true-blue Northlander, born at North Kansas City Hospital, educated in the North Kansas City School District and, after graduating from Truman State University, lived in the Vivion Oaks Apartments as she began her career in broadcasting.
She worked at Time Warner Cable, Metro Sports and WDAF-TV. She’s always been competitive and loves sports, so a job with WIN for KC (Women Intersport Network for Kansas City) eventually led to a new job as President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission in 2011. Then her responsibilities expanded as President and CEO of Visit KC in 2022.
“My job is to make sure everyone visiting Kansas City or living here has an opportunity to participate in or watch a vast variety of sporting events and to enjoy all amenities in our twostate community,” Kathy says.
Personally, Kathy loves college basketball. The Big 12 tournament each March at the T-Mobile Center is one of her favorite events. She and her husband Lance also love nothing more than a good day on the golf course or hopping on Lance’s Harley and riding the backroads of Platte County.
“There’s something so peaceful and unique about the Northland,” she says. “We feel we are where we are supposed to be in our lives.”
“We have a great story to tell in the Midwest,” Kathy says. “And now, because of the World Cup, we have an opportunity to welcome people to our area who have never heard of Missouri. In our lifetimes, we will not see an event that will have this impact again.”
The shelves in Kathy’s downtown office and at home are filled with dozens of awards. Among them, a regional Emmy for producing an NFL game, the first woman to win that award.
However, the award that she thinks most reflects who she is as an individual came in 2018. She was invited to participate in a “Dancing with the Stars” fundraiser for Cristo Rey High School.
“I tell people that we are the heart of America and everything we do is from the heart.”
Unfortunately, this past year or so, she has had little time for golf or any other down time in her beloved Parkville home. She’s on the road and in the air, passport in hand, as she travels around the world answering questions and promoting this place she’s proud to call home. In addition to obligations surrounding the World Cup, Kathy and her team are working to bring events to the metro as far out as eight or ten years.
“The organizers provided us with 20 dance lessons, but I paid for at least 60 more on my own,” she says. “I’m super competitive and if I was going to do this, I was going to win.”
And now, she is Kansas Citian of the Year, an honor bestowed in November 2025 by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce that she shares with Cliff Illig.
“I couldn’t believe it. Even my husband and girls kept it a secret,” she says. “There are so many people who make this city great and I’m lucky to be surrounded by them.”
After the estimated 650,000 World Cup visitors leave Kansas City in late July, Kathy is looking forward to some well-earned down time. She and Lance will play lots of golf and enjoy dinner at Acre in Parkville, one of their favorite places.
“I simply love the Northland,” she says. “When I see people here, they know me for who I am and not what I do. This is home.”
In 2018, Kathy Nelson won Dancing with the Stars with Valentin Bachvarov as a part of a fundraiser for Cristo Rey High School. Photo courtesy of The Independent
Haley, Lance, Kathy and Hannah Nelson at the Chamber of Commerce dinner where Kathy was named Kansas Citian of the Year. Photo courtesy of Visit KC
ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
BECKY HILLYARD
From Side Hustle to Style Empire
The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”
She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s , she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.
Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?
A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.
Becky in Splendid x @CellaJaneBlog Spring 2026 Collection
Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?
A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.
Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.
Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?
A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.
This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”
— Becky Hillyard
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MONTH, EXCEPT TUESDAYS
The Beautiful Game
National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City | 10:00 AM
Timed to Kansas City's role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this exhibition explores football's (soccer's) remarkable intersection with the Great War — from recruitment tool to morale lifeline. Features original artifacts, photographs, and firsthand accounts. Runs through Sept. 14, 2026. Visit theworldwar.org for more information.
EVERY THURSDAY
Thursday happy hour + extended hours
Blush Farms Cork + Board | 131 S Water Street, Liberty | 4:00 PM
Skip the mid-week slump for a curated evening of sips and slices. Blush Farms is open from 4–8 PM, featuring happy hour drink specials from 4–6 PM. To make things even better, we’re hosting the Pizza Patrol truck most Thursdays (or grab a Graze Box to share)! They’ll be serving up their famous pies right outside until they sell out.
MAY 9TH
Equal Start Mother's Day 5K Run & Walk
English Landing Park, Parkville | 9:00 AM
Lace up for a great cause this Mother's Day! Your entry helps Equal Start fund school supplies for the 2026 Back to School Fair. Register by April 11 to receive a t-shirt. Visit equalstart.com to sign up.
MAY 9TH
Tails on the Trails
Platte Landing Park, Parkville | 2:00 PM
Bring your pup for a free, fun afternoon on the trail! This pet-friendly community event features vendors, pet contests, raffle giveaways, and dog adoption through FOPAS. New this year: more room at Platte Landing Park thanks to a partnership with the City of Parkville. Free admission.
MAY 9TH
Pup Cup Pop Up
Stocksdale Park | 901 S La Frenz Road, Liberty | 9:00 AM
Join Liberty Parks & Rec for a barking good time at Pup Cup Pop Up! Come enjoy a beautiful spring day at Stocksdale Dog Park. There will be lots of furry friends and pet-friendly businesses their to party with us!
MAY 9TH
Renditions Polish Pottery Festival
Historic Downtown Weston | 10:00 AM
Renditions Polish Pottery Shop hosts its 12th annual festival on Main and Short Streets, celebrating Polish and Eastern European arts, food, music, and culture. Enjoy pierogi, Polish sausage, live music, artisan vendors, a Polish Pottery Exchange, and more. Free and open to all. Visit renditionsweston.com for more info.
The Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Gladstone present the 28th annual blues festival at Linden Square. Live music, food, and beverages both nights. Suggested $5 donation at the entrance. Friday park opens at 5 p.m., music at 6 p.m.; Saturday’s events begin at 4 p.m., music at 5 p.m.
MAY 16TH
Dog Days
Zona Rosa | 3:00 PM
Bring your pup and shop Zona Rosa's small businesses for dog-themed merchandise, treats, and sips for 21+. Visit Central Park for free dog caricatures, photo ops, frozen yogurt, and obedience demos from Dog Training Elite KC. Donations for KC Pet Project welcome. All leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome.
MAY 29TH-31ST
Festa Italiana
Zona Rosa's North Park | 11:00 AM
One of Kansas City's favorite festivals returns for a weekend of Italian food, live entertainment, an Italian Motorsports Show, pop-up shopping, and kids' activities. Friday 5–11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Benefits UNICO KC's college scholarship fund. For the full entertainment lineup, visit zonarosa.com
ART summ camp
MAY 29TH
Poolside Palooza (Summer Kick-Off Event)
Liberty Community Center | 1600 S Withers Road, Liberty | 6:00 PM
Join Liberty Parks & Rec for an unforgettable summer kick-off at Poolside Palooza! Dive into an evening packed with summer fun and bask in the sun as we start summer the right way.
JUNE 4TH
Let's Fla-Mingle
Historic Downtown Liberty | 4:00 PM
Break out your tropical attire for this 21+ ticketed Girls Night Out! Sip, shop, and mingle your way through downtown Liberty at the second-annual tasting event featuring tropical cocktails, snack stops, and late-night shopping. Runs 4–8 p.m. More info at historicdowntownliberty.org
JUNE 6TH
Art on the Side
The Artisan Market, 118 N. Main Street, Liberty | 8:00 AM
Historic Downtown Liberty's 5th annual art festival showcases over 80 artists and artisan makers with fine art, handcrafted goods, food trucks, children's activities, two music stages, and a Mad Hatters walking parade. Free and open to all ages, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit historicdowntownliberty.org
be featured?
2024 KC Stars Second Generation Builder
Founded in 2020, Stoneleaf Homes LLC is building high quality homes at multiple price points across the northland here in Kansas City. Owner, Alexis Miller Goin, is a second generation home builder and has implemented her knowledge for building and business in the same way her father and mother did for more than twenty years. She has fortified her building strategy to build cost-efficient homes, simplify the process for her clients, and maintain friendships with those she builds for while also maintaining great relationships with her subcontractors and vendors.
BERRY BRUSCHETTA
A RECIPE FROM A CUP FULL OF SASS
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY TINNIN
This Berry Bruschetta is a delightful twist on the classic bruschetta that we all love. This version uses fruit, bringing a sweet element to the traditionally savory dish. With the use of fresh berries, cream cheese, delicious fruit spread, crumbled cheese, and fresh rosemary, it is the perfect addition to your next spring event. This simple, yet beautiful appetizer could be enjoyed at your next brunch, shower or Mother’s Day celebration. But let’s be honest—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy this delectable dish!
INGREDIENTS:
• 12 baguette slices
• Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup Fruit and Honey Triple Berry Spread (or any fruit spread of your choice)
• 1/3 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 oz fruit cheese (such as Wensleydale with Autumn Fruit), crumbled
• Fresh rosemary for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly brush the front and back of the baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
3. Toast baguette slices in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
4. Once the baguette slices are cool, spread a generous layer of cream cheese over each slice.
5. Add the fruit spread on top of the cream cheese.
6. Add sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, allowing the vibrant colors to pop. (A great place to find fresh fruit is our local staple, Crystal & Rich’s Produce.)
7. Crumble the fruit cheese over the top for an added layer of richness and depth.
