Mushroom and Duck Napoleon

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Mushroom and Duck Napoleon

Mushroom and Duck Napoleon

1 pound mixed mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced fine
2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 ounces cream cheese
4 ounces heavy whipping cream
¼ cup shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese
duck breast
puffed pastry sheets
salt and pepper to taste

Saute the mushrooms and garlic in the oil, season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the water has been released from the mushrooms and the liquid has evaporated. Place the mushrooms into a food processor and pulse until the mushrooms are roughly chopped. Return to the saute pan and add the cream cheese, whipping cream, and cheese. Cook until the mixture in thick and everything have melded together. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Hold warm.

Season the duck breast well with salt and pepper. Sear and roast in the oven until desired internal temperature. Let the duck breast rest before slicing.

Lay the pastry sheets out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut into small squares using a pizza cutter. Place another layer of parchment over top and a second cookie sheet to weigh down. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until golden brown and let cool.

Assemble (this is a layered hors d'oeuvre):
Cut the puffed pastry squares in half horizontally. Place a small dollop of the mushroom cream, then a second layer of pastry, then a thin slice of duck and then top with a small dollop of the mushroom cream. Serve warm.

Notes:
You can stack as high as you wish but it may make a little more difficult for your guests to eat.
In place of duck breast, you can use chicken breast or thighs, or pulled pork.
The filling is versatile: You can make a pastry turnover, a mushroom strudel using phylo pastry sheets, or a filling for ravioli.
You may add brandy to the mushroom cream.

Additional: a very easy appetizer for New Year's is an antipasti platter. Arrange on a plate a variety of meats, cheese, olives, and pickles and serve with olive oil and baguettes. You can find a nice variety of pre-sliced meats at your grocery store. Prosciutto ham, salami, and pepperoni are very common and easy to find. It is quick and easy to put together and will make you look like a culinary expert!