Croustades Food

CROUSTADES WITH DUXELLES

Steps:

• Croustades: with a pastry brush, coat the inside of two miniature muffin pans (24 total muffins) with the melted butter.
• With a plain or fluted 2 1/2" cutter, cut rounds from the 24 slices of bread; carefully fit them into the muffin tins, pushing the center of the bread into the well and gently molding them around the bottom of the tin Push the tops of the bread rounds into petal shapes; each bread round should form a little cup Bake the croustades at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until they brown slightly on the rims, then remove them from the tins and let them cool.
• Duxelles: In a heavy 10-inch skillet, slowly melt the butter; add the shallots, stir them and cook over moderate heat for about 4 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms and stir thoroughly to coat them with butter In a few minutes, they will begin to give up a good deal of moisture Stir them from time to time and continue to cook until all the moisture has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes; remove pan from heat; cool slightly.
• Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and stir until not a trace of flour is visible; pour in the cream.
• Put pan back on heat and stir constantly while bringing to a boil; simmer 5 minutes Remove from heat; add salt, parsley, chives and lemon juice.
• Cool filling.
• Use a small spoon or a decorating bag to fill the croustades, mounding the filling slightly; sprinkle each one with a little bit of parmesan cheese.
• Before serving, heat the croustades at 350° for about 10 minutes.

ARTICHOKE CROUSTADES

Steps:

• Roll each bread slice flat with a rolling pin and trim it to form a 2 1/2-inch square. Brush both sides of the squares lightly with the butter and fit the squares gently into 1/8-cup muffin tins (gem tins), pressing the bread against the sides of the tins. Bake the croustades in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are pale golden. The croustades may be made 2 days in advance and kept in an airtight container.
• In a bowl stir together the artichoke hearts, the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of the scallion, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste, divide the mixture by heaping teaspoons among the croustades, and sprinkle the remaining tablespoons Parmesan on top. Broil the croustades under a preheated broiler about 6 inches from the heat, being careful not to let the croustades edges burn, for 1 minute, or until the filling is bubbling. Garnish the croustades with the scallion greens and arrange 3 of them on each of 6 heated small plates.

MUSHROOM CROUSTADES

Steps:

• For Croustade:
• Use a rolling pin to flatten each bread slice. Cut 3" (18 small) or 4" (12 large) rounds and gently fit into small or large muffin tins.
• Bake for 10 - 15 minutes at 425 or until golden and crisp. Cool on wire racks.
• Filling:.
• Melt butter in a large skillet and saute green onions for several minutes without browning.
• Stir in the mushrooms and mix well. Cook 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until moisture has evaporated.
• Remove from heat, sprinkle with flour and stir to coat the mushrooms.
• Gradually add the cream and return to heat.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly and then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes until thick.
• Stir in all the other ingredients.
• Transfer filling to a bowl, cover it and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To Serve:.
• Place croustade on cookie sheet and fill each croustade with mushroom filling so that it is slightly mounded.
• Sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese and dot with butter.
• Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and then turn to broil and brown the tops lightly.
• Serve hot.

BREAD CUP MUSHROOM CROUSTADES

Steps:

• Bread Cup: Preheat oven to 400°F Cut a 2-3 inch round from each bread slice. Gently fit bread rounds into each mold of a mini-mufin pan to form a cup. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and set aside.
• Filling: In a heavy skillet, saute shallots in butter for 1 minute. Stir in mushrooms and simmer, uncovered until all liquid has evaporated; about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir flour into mushrooms. Pour cream over and return to heat.
• Stirring constantly, bring to boil and cook another minute or so while mixture becomes very thick. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients.
• Let cool, then cover and refrigerate until cool.
• Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F Fill cups with mixture and sprinkle with minced parsley and parmesan cheese of desired. Bake 10 minutes on ungreased baking sheet.
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• NOTE: Appetizers can be made in advance and then frozen for future use. Follow the Bread cup and Filling directions above. Freeze the filled cups in the mini-muffin pan. Once frozen, you can place them in plastic bags for easier storage. When you remove them from the freezer, allow to thaw completely before baking them.

GREEK STYLE CROUSTADE

Steps:

• Cook spinach acc to pkg directions; drain well and squeeze out all liquid.
• In saucepan, cook onion in the 3 T butter; stir in flour, tarragon, and pepper.
• Add milk all at once;cook and stir until thick and bubbly.
• Stir half the hot mixture into eggs, return all to saucepan.
• Stir in spinach, cottage cheese and feta cheese.
• Brush 1 sheet of phyllo dough with butter, fold into thirds.
• Place one end in center of 14in pizza pan, extending sheet over the edge of the pan.
• Brush with butter.
• Repeat until all 10 sheets of dough are used.
• Make sure middle of pan is covered with dough.
• Place filling in an 8in circle at the center of pan.
• Starting with the last sheet you laid, lift end up and bring toward center, twist the end of the sheet, coil, and tuck under.
• Repeat with remaining sheets.
• Sheets will not meet in the center, center will be open.
• Drizzle any remaining butter over top.
• Bake at 375* for 35 minutes, until golden.
• Cut into wedges.

CHICKEN CROUSTADE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• With a rolling pin, roll out each bread slice until thin. Cut out bread with plain round cutter 1 1/2 inches in diameter and flatten again with a rolling pin. Oil small muffin tins and place the bread rounds inside. Bake until golden. Store the croustade shells covered in a dry area.
• Reduce the cream by half and reserve until needed. Saute the chicken in 1 tablespoon oil until half cooked. Add the prosciutto and continue to cook until is thoroughly heated and chicken is thoroughly cooked. Add the cream and black pepper, to taste; bring to a simmer. Add a little hot cream to the egg yolk to temper and add to pot, being careful not to boil. Add the cheese, basil, and parsley. Adjust seasoning. Fill the croustade shells; sprinkle with a little additional grated Parmesan and brown lightly under a broiler or salamander. Serve warm.