The other day I was reading the Lifestyle section of our local newspaper and found this very interesting article on toast, of all things. I thought I'd share the content with you in the event some of you out there haven't thought of gussying up this proverbial comfort food.

I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between a classic open-faced sandwich and the suddenly hip world of toast with toppings, but whatever you call it, creatively concocted toast can be a great indulgence. See what you think of these 10 ways to take toast from simple to super. And by the way, if you're having a party, make miniature versions and serve as appetizers!

Blue Lime : Spread multi-grain toast with lime marmalade, then sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese and cracked black pepper.

Ricotta-Broccoli Raab: Saute chopped broccoli raab in a little olive oil until tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Spread whole-milk ricotta over toasted sourdough bread. Spoon the broccoli raab over the ricotta, then sprinkle with coarse salt and red pepper flakes.

Cashew Sprouts: Quarter a handful of Brussels sprouts and toss with olive oil. Pan-fry them in a skillet until just tender. Spread a piece of toasted pumpernickel bread with cashew butter, then top it all with the warm sprouts and a sprinkle of Romano cheese.

Tomato Butter and Salami: Stir together 1 tablespoon softened butter with 1 tablespoon tomato paste and 1 teaspoon capers. Spread over ciabatta toast, then top with shredded salami and torn fresh basil.

Pesto Chicken: Slice a baguette in half lengthwise. Spread each piece with pesto. Top each with shredded rotisserie chicken, lemon zest, and fresh mozzarella. Broil until golden and melted, 2 to 3 minutes. I'm a big fan of rotisserie chicken we conveniently find at the grocery store-there's so much you can do with it, and this is one of our favorite suggestions thus far.

Avocado and Walnut: Top toasted herbed bread with slices of avocado. Drizzle with honey, then top with chopped fresh chives and toasted walnuts.

Hawaiian: Spread a toasted roll or English muffin with pineapple or mango jam. Top with sliced ham, roasted red peppers, and crumbled bacon.

Dates and Goat Cheese: Spread soft goat cheese over toasted multi-grain bread, then drizzle with toasted pumpkin seed oil and top with chopped dates, black pepper, and orange zest.

Tarragon and Sliced Beets: Stir 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon and 1 teaspoon lemon zest into 2 tablespoons softened cream cheese. Spread this mixture over toasted rye bread and top with thinly sliced cooked beets. Sprinkle with toasted caraway seeds.

Anchovy and Brie: Lay thin slices of brie over toasted brioche. Top this cheese with anchovy fillets and sprinkle that with toasted pumpkin seeds and balsamic glaze.

You can see from these suggestions that humble toast doesn't have to be so humble. With a little imagination and a good dose of daring, you can turn toast into something really exciting!