Canapes a L' Amiral

Dining aboard the luxurious R.M.S. Titanic during the Gilded Age was a lavish affair, with first-class dinners comprising up to ten courses. Dining was a social occasion that could last several hours, including interludes for dancing or other diversions. Guests ended their dinners by sipping coffee and snacking on assorted fruits, nuts, and cheese. This particular dish was part of the first course on the last dinner on the Titanic.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 20 canapes

Ingredients

• 1  baguette, sliced into twenty 1/2-inch slices
• 1  teaspoon lime juice
• 10  small  cooked shrimp, peeled and halved lengthwise
•  fresh flat leaf parsley (you'll need 20)
• 2  tablespoons  caviar

• Shrimp butter

• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 1  large shallot, peeled and minced
• 1  garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 8  ounces shrimp, in shell rinsed
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 4  ounces cream cheese, softened (regular or reduced fat)
• 2  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1  dash vanilla extract

Directions

1. To make canapes: Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast under broiler for 1 minute per side or until lightly golden. Remove from broiler and set aside.
2. Drizzle lime juice over cooked shrimp halves; stir and reserve.
3. To make shrimp butter: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
4. Add the shallot and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until softened.
5. Increase heat to high and add the shrimp. Saute shrimp for 4-5 minutes or until the shells are pink and the flesh is opaque.
6. Remove the shrimp and cool.
7. When cool enough to handle, peel and discard shells.
8. Transfer shrimp mixture to a food processor fitted with the steel blade or a blender.
9. Return skillet to the heat and add brandy.
10. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds or until the brandy is reduced to a glaze. Scrape the glaze into the shrimp mixture.
11. Pulse shrimp mixture in food processor until it is coarsely chopped.
12. Add the cream cheese, butter, tomato paste, salt, pepper and vanilla.
13. Process until almost smooth and set aside.
14. To assemble canapes: Place shrimp butter in a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tube.
15. Decoratively pipe the shrimp butter onto the toasted baguette slices, or spread mixture on slices using a table knife.
16. Top each with a cooked shrimp half, parsley leaf and a small amount of caviar.