Mushroom Tarts

Ingredients:

• 10 brown mushrooms (champignon)
• 1 rectangular sheet of puff pastry
• 80g Philadelphia cream cheese
• 2 tbs sour cream
• 50g asiago cheese
• 2tbs grated parmesan
• 2 eggs ( one beaten for the pastry and the other for the cheese)
• salt
• pepper
• chives
• 2 cloves of garlic
• parsley
• 2tbs olive oil

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C
• Cut the pastry sheet in four rectangles; brush each of them with the beaten egg; fold the edges (1cm) and brush them with beaten egg. Use a knife to cut through the folded edges and corners. Prick the inside of the tarts shells with a fork and bake them cca 10′ until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. In case the pastry puffed too much inside the shells press it down before it become cold
• Turn over the oven to 175°
• In a bowl , beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, egg and grated parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil with the garlic ( remove the garlic after the oil gets flavored) in a non stick pan and slightly fry the mushrooms. Add the chopped parsley and remove from the flame.
• Pour the cheese mixture in each tart shell, add the mushrooms, some grated asiago , fresh ground pepper and bake for 15′
• Sprinkle with some chopped chives for some extra flavor. Serve them warm or cold.

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Cannoli Bites

45-48 bites

Ingredients

Cannoli cups:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
• 2 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg (optional)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 large egg white
• 6 - 8 Tbsp apple juice or grape juice
• 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar (red wine vinegar or plain white vinegar would be fine)
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

Cannoli Filling

• 12 oz whole milk Ricotta cheese, strained
• 8 oz Mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (You can add 2 Tbsp more if you'd like it a little sweeter)
• 1/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
• Optional toppings:
• Melted chocolate, chopped pistachios, sprinkles, toasted sweetened coconut

Instructions:

For the cannoli cups:

• Add flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to a food processor and pulse until blended. Pour in melted butter and pulse until well combined then add egg white and pulse until blended. In a bowl combine juice and vinegar, with processor running slowly pour in juice mixture and pulse just until mixture begins to come together. Divide dough into two pieces, shape into balls and transfer to a resealable bag. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes - 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees during last 10 minutes of refrigeration.
• Meanwhile prepare filling. In a mixing bowl, using a rubber or silicone spatula, blend together Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese while running and pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to remove any lumps. Fold in powdered sugar. Cover and chill 30 minutes (or until ready to use).
• Roll each chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface (dust top with flour too) into a 14-inch circle, to about an 1/8-inch thickeness. Cut into circles using a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter. Transfer rounds to an ungreased mini muffin tin, pressing evenly into sides and bottom of muffin well. Spray tops evenly with vegetable oil spray. Bake in preheated oven 11 - 13 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once cool dip tops in chocolate if desired then into coating if using (such as pistachios) and allow chocolate to set.
• Remove cannoli filling from refrigerator, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a tip (or you can use a large resealable bag and cut the tip of the end). Pipe filling into cups and sprinkle with chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar. For best results serve within 2 hours. Store in refrigerator.

 Enjoy!

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