Recipe - Escargots En Cercueils ( Snails In Puff Pastr

36 Snails; undrained
One half cup Chardonnay or dry white wine
1 Medium onion; minced
1 Shallot; minced
2 Garlic cloves; minced
Salt & freshly ground pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg
1 pound Puff pastry, pref. homemade
1 Egg yolk (blended w/ milk)
3 tablespoon Milk (to blend with yolk)
Three fourths cup Butter; wellchilled*
1/3 cup Chopped toasted hazelnuts
3 tablespoon Minced fresh parsley

*Note: Butter should be cut into 12 pieces.

Drain snail juices into small saucepan. Place snails in bowl. Add wine,
onion, shallot, garlic, salt, pepper and nutmeg to juices and bring to
boil. Pour marinade over snails. Let cool. Cover and refrigerate for 24
hours. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter baking sheets. Roll dough out
on lightly floured surface to thickness of 1/4". Cut out 36 circles using
2inch floured cutter. Arrange circles on prepared sheets. Using knife
tip, trace lid on each circle 3/4inch from edge; do not cut through dough.
Brush with glaze. Bake pastry until puffed and golden brown, about 10
minutes. Cool slightly on rack. Using sharp knife, cut out lids. Discard
any soft dough inside shells. Reduce oven to 375 degrees.

Strain marinade into large saucepan, pressing down on vegetables to extract
all liquid. Boil until reduced to One half cup. Remove pan from heat and whisk
in 2 pieces of butter. Set pan over low heat and whisk in remaining butter
1 piece at a time. Mix in snails, hazelnuts and parsley.

Adjust seasoning. Place 1 snail and some of sauce inside each shell. Top
with lid. Bake until heated through. Serve immediately.

Bon Appetit magazine, Dec. '84.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini