Wild Mushroom in Puff Pastries, Appetizer Stuffed Pastry with Mushrooms Recipe

If you're anything like I am, then you look for an excuse to put mushrooms into anything possible. I've stuffed meats and other mushrooms with them, added them to soups, sauces, stocks and gravies, and used then as all manner of side dishes.

This might be one of my greatest achievements. Of course puff pastry is fine by me no matter what you do to it. When combined with the silky, earthy mushrooms and baked to golden crispiness....mmmmmm. Nummy. These are just plain luscious.

What makes these even better is that you can make them in big batches - AND make them ahead. Bake them to just under the color you want them and let them cool. When ready to serve them, reheat them for about ten minutes in a 350F. Bombshell.

• 1 medium clove garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 lb assorted wild mushrooms, chopped - whatever you come across. I often use criminis and shiitakes.
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic, saute until fragrant and beginning to turn translucent. Add mushrooms, thyme and garlic and cook for approximately 10-15 minutes, until mushrooms release their moisture and reduce by about half. 
3. Stir in Parmesan, nutmeg and heavy cream, and remove from heat. Allow to cool. Mushroom mixture will thicken as it cools.
4. While mushroom mixture is cooling, unfold pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to a 12 x 15 square. Cut sheets into 3 inch squares until you have 18. *
5. Place a mounded teaspoon of mushroom filling in the center of each square. Fold pastry over filling to form triangles. Press edges with a fork to seal. Place on a heavy baking sheet.
   
6. Bake for 12-16 minutes, until puffed and golden. These work well hot or at room temperature. They can also be reheated in a 350F oven for five minutes, so these are a pretty neat do-ahead trick. If they last.