Vermont Recipes Mushroom Almond Pate

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large pan. Saute the onion, garlic, mushrooms and thyme over medium-low heat.
• Place the toasted almonds in a food processor with the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the mushroom mixture, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Process until the mixture becomes either a bit chunky or very smooth, depending on preference. Transfer to a serving bowl and refrigerate, covered, for several hours.
• Serve with light rye bread, crackers, grapes, pears and Brie cheese.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt margarine.
• Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms.
• Saute until tender but not browned.
• Add tarragon, stir until it is softened.
• Pour mixture into a bowl of food processor.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Process until mixture is smooth.
• Add cheese if you prefer a more spreadable consistency.
• Spoon into a serving bowl.
• Top with garnish of your choice.
• GARNISH: slivered or finely chopped almonds, fresh parsley sprigs, pimiento strips, or sweet red pepper strips, optional.
• People who do not like ordinary pate seem to love this one.
• Vary the herbs and substitute the vegetables as you wish.
• Serve with water crackers, thick slices of crusty French bread, thin slices of whole wheat bread, or unsalted whole wheat crackers.
• May be frozen.

Steps:

• Toast almonds and cool.
• Melt butter in a pan and add the other ingredients. Cook until mushrooms are soft.
• Reserving 2 T of almonds, blend the rest, adding olive oil as they blend. Stop when creamy and smooth.
• Add mushroom mix and blend.
• Place in serving bowl.
• Chop the 2 T of reserved almonds and put on top of the pate for serving.

Steps:

• Toast the almonds.
• Coarsely chop garlic, onion and mushrooms in a food processor. Sauté in butter over medium-high heat with thyme, salt and pepper to taste, and wine; simmer until liquid has evaporated.
• Grind 3/4 cup of almonds finely; add oil and process until creamy. Add mushroom mixture and process until smooth. Mix remaining almonds slivers through the mixture; put into a mould and chill.
• Garnish with parsley before serving.