Miniature Shrimp Quiches

Here's a great little dish you can use as an appetizer or even an entree.  This recipe gives a list of ingredients for the pastry shells, but (on a freezer-cleaning mission, again) I had a box of mini phyllo shells I wanted to use instead (the box had 15 shells, so I halved the recipe below).  They worked just fine.  I used this as my main dish along with my Go-to Summer Salad and some polenta fries.

MINIATURE SHRIMP QUICHES (makes 3 dozen)

1 cup (4 oz) shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped cooked shrimp
2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Pastry Shells (recipe below)
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Dash of hot sauce

Combine first four ingredients; spoon evenly into Pastry Shells.  Combine eggs and remaining ingredients, stirring well; pour mixture even into Pastry Shells.  Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until set. 

PASTRY SHELLS

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1/4 tsp salt

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed of an electric mixer until well-blended; stir in flour and salt.  Cover and chill one hour.

Shape chilled dough into 1" balls.  Place in ungreased minature (1 3/4") mini-muffin pans, shaping each ball into a shell.

Recipe Source: The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook