Mushroom Crostata Recipe

I think a mushroom-filled crostata would work wonderfully. The rustic look of the free-form savory pie and the earthy flavors of the five londs of mushroom used go hand in hand. I also added a bit of sharp Cheddar cheese for its melty, stringy and delicious qualities.

The reason I used that many mushrooms (shiitake mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms, beech mushrooms, Boletus mushrooms and fresh white button mushrooms) is because we're going on a family vacation for Spring break to San Antonio , Texas --follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see more pictures-- and my mission was to "empty" our refrigerator. You could add pancetta to the mushroom filling if you don't mind the dish being non-vegetarian. It gives a subtly sweet, salty note, which is very pleasant.

Holiday Canape Appetizers

Canapés are small appetizers that are perfect for a holiday cocktail party. These sweet and savory Christmas canapes invoke the colors of the season through the use of candied orange bits. 

The base is a blini made of rice flour for extra crispness. The top is slightly melted sharp cheddar cheese with a garnish of oil-cured black olives and the candied orange rind. You may have heard that citrus and cheese don't play well together, but the tart/sweet rind doesn't have some issues. 

If you have other leftover dried fruit, feel free to use it instead. A spreadable cheese is also a great substitute for the cheddar. The bottom line is that you can assemble these appetizers quickly and make use of whatever ingredients you have on hand.