Shrimp Scampi Cheesecake Appetizer

When I first saw this recipe, I was a little hesitant to make it as the title alone is making this dish so RICH! To my surprise it was, but the Shrimp and Gouda Cheese and Cream cheese combination works well, it is rich in flavor but it's something that you would want for more.
This recipe got adapted on www.allrecipes.com

This original recipe makes 12 servings it says, however, BEWARE it actually makes ALOT. I ended up putting the remaining mixture in the fridge and actually bought more Puffed Pastry to make 2 batches and I still had more left! it makes great left over "Mac & Cheese" pasta dish! I used the no yolk egg noodles and ended up baking it at 350 deg for another dish out of this recipe!

Ok, let's move on to the ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion
• 6 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled & deveined
• 12 shells puff pastry, baked
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine

• 3 ( 8 ounce), packages cream cheese softened
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 heavy cream
• 16 ounces smoked Gouda, grated
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 
  

Prep: 45 mins

Cook: 25 mins

Ready in 1 hr 10 mins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm oil and saute onions and garlic until onions are translucent; set aside to cool. When cool, pour off liquid reserving garlic
3. Cut shrimp into 1/2 inch pieces, reserving 12 uncut for garnish. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt butter and add reserved garlic and all shrimp; cook shrimp for 2 to 4 minutes or until done.
4. Remove center circle and a small portion of inside of cooled puff pastry shells.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy; add one egg at a time and beat until well mixed. Add cream, Gouda, onions, shrimp and salt.
6. Spoon filling into puff pastry shells.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until filling is browned on top. Garnish with whole shrimp and chopped chives; serve. I actually omitted the chopped chives, although I bet if it were topped with it, it might've made it more tastier and the chives will sort of offset the richness.