Baked brie topped with creamy roasted garlic, tomatoes and pine nuts.

Baked Brie with Roasted Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

1 whole head garlic

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 (12-ounce) round of brie cheese

3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and cut into thin strips

1/3 cup pine nuts

3 tablespoons finely shredded fresh basil

Crostini* or apple slices

Garnish: Sprigs of fresh basil or rosemary, imported green and black olives

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut off 1/4 inch of pointed end of head of garlic (save small pieces for another recipe). Place cut side up in a piece of aluminum foil. Place rosemary on top. Bring sides of foil up to make a deep bowl, but do not enclose garlic completely. Pour olive oil over top of garlic. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in preheated oven. Cool.
3. Squeeze garlic so that the cloves pop out of their papery jackets. They should be creamy. Smash them and spread on top of brie (including some of the rosemary).
4. Place brie in ovenproof dish. Top with tomatoes and pine nuts. Increase oven temperature to 400°F (205°C).
5. Bake brie until warm and softened, about 13 to 18 minutes. If topping is getting too browned, cover loosely with aluminum foil during last portion of baking.
6. Sprinkle slivers of fresh basil on top. Surround with crostini and/or apple slices. Garnish with sprigs of fresh herbs and, if using, drained imported olives. Provide a spreading knife.

Yield: 24 servings.

*Toasted slices of good bread that have been brushed with a little olive oil before toasting.

Note: If you can only find small, 4-ounce disks of brie, push 3 small wheels next to one another.

Advance preparation: Garlic can be roasted several days in advance and stored, airtight, in the refrigerator. You can assemble the brie with the garlic, tomatoes and pine nuts a day in advance and store, airtight, in the refrigerator.