Mushroom Pies With Pear Salad Food

MUSHROOM PEAR MELTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper., Place toast slices on a rack of a broiler pan. Top with mushrooms; layer with pears and cheese. Broil 3-4 in. from heat until cheese is lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.

MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450º Fahrenheit.

BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO, OYSTER MUSHROOM CHIPS, CABRALES AND PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the oyster mushrooms from the stem and pull them into bite-size pieces (the smaller ones can be left whole). Add them to a bowl along with some olive oil. Season with salt and crushed red pepper, to taste, and toss to coat. Spread the seasoned mushrooms out on 2 baking sheets in a single layer. Roast the mushrooms in the preheated oven until the mushrooms are sort of "cooked on" to the bottom of the baking sheet, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape the mushroom chips off the bottom of the baking sheet with a bench scraper and reserve in a small bowl.
• MMMMM...mushroom chips!
• Cut the prosciutto crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. Try to keep them separated. Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and put over low heat. Lay the prosciutto strips in the pan, and when they start to shrivel and shrink add more strips to the pan. When the strips get crispy and crinkly give them a douse of red wine vinegar. Stir quickly and turn off the heat. Remove the strips to paper towels until ready to use. These are best when they are cooked the day of use.
• Separate the leaves of the lettuce, removing any thick ribs. Wash and spin dry, if needed; usually this lettuce is pretty clean and healthy looking. Add the lettuce to a large bowl and toss in the mushrooms chips, sliced pears and blue cheese. Dress with red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt, to taste. Check the seasoning to make sure the salad is dressed appropriately. Arrange the salad on serving plates and sprinkle with the prosciutto strips.
• Let everyone tell you that you are a super star!!!

SWISS MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry; trim even with edge. In a skillet, saute the mushrooms and onion in butter; drain. Arrange half of the cheese slices in the crust. Top with half of the mushroom mixture; repeat layers., Place remaining pastry over filling; trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in the top. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into wedges.

HERBED GRAIN SALAD WITH MUSHROOMS, HAZELNUTS AND PEARS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in barley and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until tender but not mushy, 30 to 40 minutes. (Different grains will cook at different rates.)
• Make the dressing: In a food processor, combine the greens, dill and garlic and process until finely chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the whole nuts and pulse a few times to coarsely chop. While the motor is running, add the 3/4 cup oil gradually in a slow stream and process until smooth. Add the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper (12 to 16 grinds), and mix. Taste and adjust the seasonings with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. It should taste bright and rich.
• Cook the mushrooms: In a wide, medium-size pot, combine the mushrooms and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Stir in the 2 tablespoons oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are completely cooked through and well browned, 5 to 10 minutes more. (The mushrooms will shrink quite a bit.) Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt.
• When the barley is cooked, drain it well and return to the pot. Let cool until warm, stirring occasionally. (If the dressing is added when the grains are too hot, it will turn brown and taste "cooked.") Stir in a little oil if needed to prevent sticking. Stir in dressing and set aside, stirring occasionally, to let the grains absorb the dressing, at least 10 minutes.
• When ready to serve, taste the barley and season again. Gently mix in mushrooms, pear and chopped nuts. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with lots of dill, and serve warm or at room temperature.

MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Saute the onions in butter in a large skillet.
• When the onions are soft and translucent, add the mushrooms and thyme and suate for a few more minutes, until the mushrooms release their juices.
• Add the seasonings.
• Cut the cream cheese into small pieces and stir it into the mushrooms until it melts.
• Remove from the heat and set aside until crust is ready.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• For the crust, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.
• Cut in the butter just enough to achieve a crumbly mix.
• Stir in the sour cream to form a soft dough.
• Generously dust the dough with flour and form into a ball.
• On a heavily floured surface, roll out 2/3 of the dough to fit a 10 inch pie plate.
• Trim the edges.
• Fill with the mushroom mixture.
• Roll out the remaining dough about 1/4 inch thick (Thicker than normal pie crust) and cut into strips 1 inch wide.
• Weave the strips into a lattice over the filling.
• Fold the ends of the lattice strips under the bottom crust, pinch the edges together, and flute.
• For the glaze, beat the egg and milk.
• With a pastry brush, thoroughly coat the pie crust. (You will have more glaze than you will need).
• Bake the pie for 25-35 minutes, until the crust is puffy and golden.

MINI CREAMY MUSHROOM PIES

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and fry until soft. Stir in the garlic and mushrooms, season and cook for 5 mins until the mushrooms are soft. Stir in the parsley and cream. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a 6-hole muffin tin with butter, then line each hole with a long thin strip of baking parchment. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and stamp out 6 x 10 cm circles. Press a circle into each hole to line. Roll out the remaining pastry (you may need to re-roll trimmings) and stamp out 6 x 8cm circles.
• Divide the mushroom mix between the pies. Brush the pastry edges with a little egg, top each with a pastry lid and carefully press the pastry edges together to seal.
• Brush with the remaining egg and sprinkle with caraway seeds. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden. Allow to cool in the tin slightly before serving, or cool on a wire rack and keep in airtight containers for up to 1 day. Reheat before serving.