Cheddar, Ham and Chutney Bites
- 9 slices homemade-style white bread
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar, plus more, for garnish
- 1/2 cup finely diced smoked ham
- 2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- Cayenne
- Salt
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped drained mango chutney
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- With a rolling pin flatten each slice of bread and with a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter stamp out 2 rounds from each slice.
- With the rolling pin flatten the rounds, brush them with butter, and fit them into 36 buttered 1/8-cup gem tins.
- Brush the bread with the melted butter and bake the shells in the oven for 6 minutes, or until they are pale golden.
- Cool the shells in the tins on cooling racks for 5 minutes, then remove the shells from the tins, and let them cool completely on the racks.
- Make the filling: In a saucepan melt the butter over moderate heat, add the flour, and cook the mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, for 2 minutes.
- Add the half-and-half in a stream, bring the mixture to a boil, whisking, and simmer the mixture over moderately low heat, whisking for 3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat, add the Cheddar, ham, and mustard, and season with cayenne and salt, to taste, and stir the mixture until it is combined well.
- Spoon 1/4 teaspoon of the chutney into each shell and top the chutney with a rounded teaspoon of the cheese mixture.
- Arrange the filled shells on a jellyroll pan and freeze them for about 30 minutes or until the filling is just firms to the touch.
- Transfer the shells to reseal-able freezer bags, arranging them in 1 layer.
- Seal the bags, pressing out the air, and freeze the bites for up to 1 month.
- To reheat: Arrange the shells on a baking sheet and sprinkle them with the additional Cheddar.
- Bake the bites in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the filling is heated through.
- Run the bites under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the tops are golden.
bread, unsalted butter, unsalted butter, flour, grated sharp, ham, mustard, cayenne, salt, mango
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cheddar-ham-and-chutney-bites.html (may not work)