1. Wash and thoroughly dry your cherry or grape tomatoes. Carefully slice each tomato in half lengthwise.

2. Drain the fresh mozzarella balls. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 1-inch to 1.5-inch wide), press firmly into each mozzarella ball to create heart shapes. You might need to gently push the mozzarella out of the cutter. If the mozzarella balls are too small for a cookie cutter, you can carefully slice them into small cubes or triangles, though the heart shape will be less defined.

3. Select fresh basil leaves. Wash them gently and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Larger leaves work best as they provide a good visual contrast and flavor.

4. Take a wooden skewer. Start by threading one half of a heart-shaped mozzarella onto the skewer.

5. Next, thread a basil leaf, folded in half if it’s very large. Then, thread one half of a sliced cherry tomato. Repeat this pattern: mozzarella heart, basil leaf, tomato half, until the skewer is almost full, leaving some space at the top for easy handling. Aim for 2-3 sets of mozzarella, basil, and tomato per skewer, depending on skewer length.

6. Once all skewers are assembled, arrange them neatly on a serving platter. Just before serving, drizzle a generous amount of balsamic glaze over all the skewers. This adds a beautiful sheen and a tangy-sweet finish.