Mushroom brushcetta

Ingredients (* items can be found by a local grower or artisan!)

*½ lbs shiitake mushrooms or ½ lb medley

*4 slices white crusty bread or 10 smaller baguette slices

Your choice of spreadable cheese, my top pick is cream cheese, but ricotta and *goat cheese are also very nice

*1 onion

2 cloves garlic

*Fresh parsley or basil

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp olive oil +2 tbsp for sautéing

Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

Preheat a large pan over medium heat, adding 2 tbsp of olive oil or butter. Slice shiitakes, onions and garlic thinly, discarding large or tough stems from the shiitakes. Add onions and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms are fully cooked and the edges are starting to brown. Add garlic and cook for another minute.

Slice bread into 1/2 inch slices and toast. Add a generous amount of your cheese of choice. For a vegan version I recommend basting the bread in olive oil and a dash of salt before toasting, or use a vegan soft cheese.

Top the bread with mushrooms and sprinkle fresh parsley or basil on top.

In a Mason jar combine balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Shake the Mason jar with balsamic vinegar vigorously for one minute. Drizzle over toast and serve immediately. Although I like this bruschetta best served warm, it is quite yummy cold.