Mushroom Cheese Strudel #SundaySupper

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary has the world in shock and grieving. The impotence of it all makes it terribly heartbreaking. It is just unacceptable. This post was written before that, and in no way reflects what I´ve been feeling for the last days. 

The need to be there for others and help and comfort is bigger than ever. In whatever way we can. Those families are in my prayers and thoughts every day.

I could pretty much live on drinks and appetizers. There´s nothing more tempting than finger food. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. That´s the appeal of buffet tables too. Oh, if I could only open my fridge and have that kind of food every day.

But I´ll settle for today´s virtual drinks and appetizers´ pre-holidays celebration. The Sunday Supper table, hosted by Conni, is full of little nibbles and comforting things to drink. Though I´ll pass on the latter, since it´s 100º outside and a cup of hot buttered rum sounds like a sentence not a pleasure.

People, the food and drinks are so amazing I really, really wish this was happening right now at my house. And about that spiked eggnog, I will remember it in a few months.

So of course I made an appetizer. Crackly phyllo dough filled with mushrooms and cheese. Good at room temperature, so you don´t even have to worry about that.

Working with phyllo dough drives some people far away. They are a middle eastern specialty, ridiculously thin pieces of dough, that, besides needing some decent counter space to work with them, they need to be individually buttered and kept under a damp cloth at all times while you tend to the other pieces of dough because they start to dry out just.like.that.

But, as with any laborious thing in the kitchen, the result is worth it. 

That crackly, glass shattering sound when you bite makes it worth it. You can buy them in the supermarket now, though specialty stores always have the best quality. I try to buy mine at my favorite armenian bakery. But the one I used today was purchased at the market across the street and was the remaining half from this apple pie.

Since I love doughs in general I enjoy this type of recipes. The filling is a mix of flavors that´s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Mushrooms, cheese, green onion and walnuts basically. The possibilities are really endless. Whatever you would put inside a tart will work here.

Strudels have a layer of breadcrumbs in the bottom to absorb any excess moisture during baking and prevent from biting a soggy dough. The whole filling binds together with a mixture of egg and sour cream. This is a good step for appetizers, especially if you´re going to eat with your hands, it will really keep the filling in place.

You can make this with tart dough and call them handpies. Like this one with ham andmushrooms or this one with corn. But phyllo dough is worth the effort.

If you´re serving this as an appetizer to seated guests, it goes well with a green salad or tomato salad.

MUSHROOM CHEESE STRUDEL

a bit adapted from Secrets from a Caterer´s Kitchen, by Nicole Aloni

The filling is enough for 2 strudels; work with one at a time so the phyllo dough doesn´t dry out.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds (about 8 cups) sliced mushrooms, any kind

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

½ cup grated Fontina cheese

2 or 3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley

4 Tbs butter

2 Tbs olive oil

¾ cup chopped green onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup sherry or white wine

3 eggs

½ cup sour cream

Salt and black pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

3 Tbs toasted walnuts, chopped

2 Tbs dry breadcrumbs

8 phyllo sheets

1 cup clarified butter

Directions

In a large skillet melt butter and oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and soften for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and cook over high heat until they begin to loose water. When the liquid has almost evaporated, add sherry and cook 30 seconds.

Remove from heat and mix cheeses and parsley. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg if using.

Mix eggs and sour cream and add to the mushrooms.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

On a clean surface, have clarified butter ready and a brush. Cut each phyllo dough in 4 pieces (I use scissors). Arrange one sheet on a flat surface and brush, carefully, with clarified butter. This is easier if you dot the entire dough with small amounts of butter and then spread. If you tear it, don´t worry, patch it up as best as you can.

Repeat with remaining three sheets, stacking them one on top of the other.

Sprinkle breadcrumbs along one short side, leaving 3 or 4 inches from the border. Put mushroom mixture on top of the breadcrumbs, then sprinkle nuts on top.

Starting on the short side near you, fold the dough over the filling. Brush the dough with butter. Fold the two sides inwards. Fold the packet as many times as necessary, brushing the dough with butter every time. When you´re done folding and you have a tight packet brush the entire surface with butter making sure the dough is sealed.

Bake for 30 minutes, until golden.

Cool to room tº, cut into slices and serve.

Makes 2 strudels, about 16 small portions.

Come join us and celebrate with this list of mind-blowing ideas:

Holiday Cocktails

• Glühwein from Magnolia Days
• Cookies-n-Cream Cocktails from The Urban Mrs
• Cranberry Fizz from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
• Rosemary Orange Punsch from Galactopdx
• Candy Cane Martini from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Raspberry Hot Chocolate from Momma’s Meals
• Chocolate Peppermint Eggnog from The Daily Dish Recipes
• Jamaican Sorrel from The Lovely Pantry
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Spoons from Chocolate Moosey
• Homemade Eggnog from Flour on my Face
• Moroccan Mint Tea from MarocMama
• Cherry Bomb from Noshing with the Nolands
• Wassel from There And Back Again
• Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Pomegranate Cosmo from Supper For A Steal
• Poinsettia Mimosas from Big Bear’s Wife
• Mulled Wine: Spiked and Steamy from Daddy Knows Less
• Poinsettia Cocktails from The Catholic Foodie
• The Red Carpet Diva from Cooking Underwriter

Holiday Appetizers or Hors d’oeuvres

• Cheese Ball Wreath from The Meltaways
• Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts from My Catholic Kitchen
• Prosciutto Goat Cheese Rolls with Fig Preserves and Arugula from Shockingly Delicious
• Muenster and Spinach Pinwheels from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Drunk Moose Meatballs from The Foodie Army Wife
• Smoked Salmon Blinis with Cranberry-Spiced Feta from Chattering Kitchen
• Sticky Wholegrain Mustard & Ginger Cocktail Sausages from girlichef
• Potato Leek Soup from What Smells So Good
• Cheesy Mushroom Pull Apart Bread from Small Wallet Big Appetite
• 5 Quick & Easy Appetizers for Your Holiday Party from Webicurean
• Bacon Peanut Caramel Corn from Gotta Get Baked
• Crostini topped with Voodoo Chicken Cream Dip from Country Girl in the Village
• Mushroom Strudel from Vintage Kitchen
• Roxanne’s Shrimp & Andouille Sausage Queso Dip from The ROXX Box
• Herbed Holiday Party Mix from Curious Cuisiniere
• Old fashioned Swedish Meatballs from I Run For Wine
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bites from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Fried Green Beans with Wasabi Ranch from Juanita’s Cocina
• Salsa Baked Cheese from Home Cooking Memories
• Cookie Dough Dip from The Cookie-A-Day Challenge
• Parmesan Onion Rounds from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Lip-smacking Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs from In The Kitchen with KP
• Hot Spinach Parmesan Dip from Comfy Cuisine
• Indian Spiced Tuna Balls from Soni’s Food
• Onion marmalade with Bacon from Ruffles and Truffles
• Sweet Potato Dip from Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Festive Cucumber & Ginger Sushi Rolls from The Ninja Baker
• Baked Brie from Family Foodie

In honor of the Sandy Hook victims and their families, we have cancelled our regularly scheduled#SundaySupper Chat this week.

Let this be a time when we renew our faith in the power of love and realize the importance of time with our families.