Mini Mushroom Crostatas

When I was a kid every neighbourhood cocktail party had a version of this recipe. I would always try and sneak a few. 20 years later and it still appeals to me. Mushrooms are so delicious and when paired with a creamy sauce it's hard to go wrong. The added bonus of this recipe is that you can make 90% of it the day before. When company arrives just fill the cups and pop them in the oven for 10 minutes. Trust me, everyone will love them.

• 16 slices white bread (approx 1 loaf)
• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 shallot
• 1/2lb of mushrooms
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper
• cayenne
• 4 tbsp fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp green onion
• parmesan

Butter the muffin tins. With a rolling pin flatten each piece of bread then using a 3" cookie cutter or tumbler cut out a circle from each slice (save remaining bread to feed the birds). Push each circle into a muffin slot to make a mini cup. Bake at 400F for 10 mins until cups are lightly browned. Rmemove and cool. This step can be done the day before.

Finely chop the mushrooms and mince the shallot. Sautee with olive oil in a non stick frying pan. It may seem like there is a ton of mushrooms but they shrink down considerably. Continue sauteeing until all the mushroom moisture is gone from the pan. Drain any excess oil. Lightly sprinkle with flour and stir so it is incorparted throughout the mushroom mixture. Add cream and bring to a boil. The sauce should thicken almost immediately. Add the lemon juice and stir until smooth. Simmer until the sauce is thick again. Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, cayenne and finely chopped parsley and green onion. This also can be made the day ahead and refridgerated.

On the day of the party fill each cup with some of the mushroom mixture and top with a sprinkle of grated parmesan (don't use the pizza kind). Bake in the oven at 350F for 10 minutes. If cheese is not nicely browned you can put it under the broiler but only for a very short time.

Wow your guests with these delicious mouthfulls.

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