Mushroom and Goat Cheese Spread

1. Preheat your broiler and grease an 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter and set aside.
2. Add ¼ cup boiling water and porcini mushrooms to a bowl and let it stand for 10 minutes.
3. Strain the mushrooms in a colander, reserving the water; and chop the mushrooms into smaller pieces and set aside.
4. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium and melt butter with oil.
5. Add thyme, shallots, rosemary, pepper, garlic and salt to the butter and sauté for 2 minutes.
6. Add the porcini, wild and cremini mushrooms and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.
7. Pour in the reserved mushroom water and sherry to the pan, scraping the bottom to glaze it. Let the sauce cook for 5 minutes or until the liquid almost disappears.
8. Remove the pan from heat, transfer the mushroom mixture and 3 tablespoons of cheese in a food processor. Process until smooth.
9. Scrape the mixture into the baking dish, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and broil for 7 minutes or until the edges of the cheese begin to brown.
10. Remove from heat, sprinkle with parsley and spread on crostini or bruschetta to serve.

Trivia

There are more than 30 species of mushrooms that actually glow in complete darkness. A chemical reaction called bioluminescence produces a glow called foxfire. People from all centuries have been known to use these mushrooms to find their way through woods.