INGREDIENTS

1 cup chopped onions
1 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 cups heavy cream
2 T. butter
1/2 t. salt
1-1/2 cups dry white wine
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 sprigs parsley, minced
1 T. chopped parsley for garnish
4 lbs. Canadian Cove mussels

DIRECTIONS
In a heavy soup pot, combine onions, shallots, butter, wine and parsley. Place mussels in pot, cover tightly and cook 3-4 minutes or until mussels have opened. With slotted spoon, scoop mussels from pot and set aside. Strain broth through cheesecloth into a bowl. Press down on vegetables to extract all the juices. Shuck the mussels, discarding any unopened ones. Reserve 24 and puree the rest, along with the strained broth in a blender or food processor. Pour the puree into a pot, add milk and cream. Simmer 10 - 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add 3 reserved mussels to each portion and garnish with minced parsley or chives.