Recipe - Mushroom & Burrata Crostini

Fall weekends at home in 2020 call for enjoying the bounties of the season and new wine pairings.

Our 2015 Reserve Helix Chardonnay was aged for nearly 5 years in a 500L French oak puncheon, sur lie. This special Chardonnay has a creamy mouthfeel, balanced acidity, and a hint of spice, making it a fantastic choice for foods featuring mushrooms, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and corn, like this mushroom and burrata crostini. You can also easily substitute the mushroom for butternut squash! 

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INGREDIENTS

• 5 ½  cups mixed chopped/sliced mixed mushrooms, about 16 oz (Note: you can buy pre-sliced)
• ½  cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 baguette, cut on diagonal into ¼ inch thick slices
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 balls (8 oz each) burrata cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with racks in the upper and lower thirds.
   
2. Place mushrooms onto a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt and pepper to taste plus thyme leaves. Spread mushroom mixture in a single layer on the roasting pan and place on the upper rack for 15 minutes.
   
3. Meanwhile, slice and arrange the baguette on another sheep pan; brush the tops with the remaining ¼ cup  olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. 
   
4. After 15 minutes, lower the oven to 400 degrees and slide the pan with the baguette slices onto the lower rack. Roast, flipping the baguette slices halfway through until the bread is golden brown and the mushrooms are brown and crisp, an additional 10 minutes. Remove both pans from the oven.
   
5. While the bread slices are still hot, rub the cut sides with garlic.
   
6. Cut the balls of burrata in half. Use a butter knife or spoon to spread a portion of the cheese on each slice of baguette. Top with a sprinkle of fresh thyme, then spoon the mushroom mixture on top. 
   
7. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Roast Butternut Squash Variation:

1. Roast 5 ½ cups (about 16 oz) of peeled and chopped butternut squash and follow the directions for mushrooms.