Micro Phyillo Cup Appetizers/Chocolate Cordial Cup Appetizers

Submitted by June Shockley

I served these at a PEO tea and they were a big hit.  They look very professional and taste great too.  You need to plan ahead because some of the components are hard to find and may even need to be ordered on line.

  Mini Phyllo Shells  may be found in the frozen food section near frozen bread dough, desserts, and coffee cakes etc.  I have always been able to find them at D&W on Parkview in the frozen food case directly across from the eggs.

NOTE: Mango Chutney is not easy to find.  I like to order a few jars at a time on line so I have it on hand.  http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/mango-chutney

 Fillings for Micro Phyllo Shells

#1 Brie and Blackberry

ü     Place the frozen cups on a jelly roll pan and place a small cube of brie cheese (cut off rind) in each shell.  I find a piece of cheese about the size of a sugar cube works best.

ü      Place in a preheated oven set at 375 for about 8-10 min.  You want the cheese to be melted.  Keep an eye on them. 

ü     Remove from oven and let them cool slightly.  

ü     Place a small dab of Smucker’s Blackberry Jam on top of each one.  Garnish with a dot of sour cream and a fresh blackberry. 

ü     They are the very best served slightly warm but they are still very good at room temperature.

#2 Cream Cheese and Mango Chutney

ü     Place the empty frozen cups on a jelly roll pan and bake in a preheated oven at 375 for about 5 minutes.  You just want to crisp them up a bit.  The edges may turn slightly brown.

ü     To make filling.  Combine 8oz. softened Philadelphia Cream Cheese with 1 teaspoon curry powder and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese. 

ü     Fill baked ups about 2/3 full.  You want to leave enough room for the chutney topping.

ü     On top of each cup place a dab of Mango Chutney Jam.  This can be tricky to find but I usually find it at D&W on Parkview or sometimes at World Market.  I use a brand called Stonewall Kitchen Mango Chutney, sometimes I have to order it on the internet.

ü     Next sprinkle with shredded sweetened coconut

ü     Next sprinkle with finely diced fresh green onion

ü     Next top with 4 slivered toasted almonds.  I like to stand them straight up.

ü     This is best if served immediately.  Because of the cream cheese you need to refrigerate them if you are going to keep them for more than 4 hours.

         #3 Lemon Curd

ü     Place the empty frozen fillo cups on a jelly roll pan and bake in a preheated oven at 375 for about 5 minutes.  You just want to crisp them up a bit.  The edges may turn slightly brown.

ü     Fill cooled cups with Lemon Curd.  I use Dickenson’s Lemon Curd.  It is sold by the jams and jellies.  I got mine at Hardings Market at Woodbridge but I think they have it in many grocery stores. 

ü     Just before serving garnish with a dab of whipped cream and a fresh raspberry or perhaps blueberry of you like.

Your imagination is the limit on ways to fill these festive and versatile little ups.  They are almost like a micro-tidbit.  You can make them sweet or savory as an appetizer or a dessert.

ü     Fill with egg salad and place a slice of black olive on top

ü     Fill with ham salad with a small cube of cheese or a sliced olive

ü     Fill with  a slice of banana, ice cream and a dollop of hot fudge with a cherry on top and serve as a mini-banana split

ü     Fill with pico salsa top with sour cream and garnish with some corn chip crumbles

ü     Fill with a small scoop of purchased cheese cake and top with finely dice strawberries

ü     Fill with chocolate garnish and top with a pecan and whipped cream

Chocolate Codial Cups can be tricky to find.  Usually Gordons Foods has them.  Otherwise you can order them on line just by googling "chocolate cordial cups.

Fillings For Chocolate Cordial Cups

ü     These may be filled with any liquor and served on a tray as an after dinner drink

ü     As an appetizer I like them filled with Jeff Peanut Butter Fluff and tipped with a miniature marshmallow.

ü     Fill with strawberry cream cheese and tip with fresh strawberry.  You actually could use any cream cheese and top with the appropriate fruit.

ü     Fill with some finely diced banana and top with walnut pieces

Actually anything that tastes good with chocolate would go well in the cup.

Enjoy,