Do you have exciting plans for 4th of July this year? Whether you are heading out to watch the fireworks or hosting a backyard barbecue, these Crab Bites are a delicious appetizer to serve. Don't forget to add some red, white, and blue to your table (with a Mini-Cupcake Flag or a spectacular Uncle Sam Hat Cake), but the Crab Bites are a great opener, and will have every guest asking for the recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 6-ounce can crabmeat
• 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ¼ teaspoon dijon mustard
• ½ tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning

• dash sea salt
• dash pepper
• 1 package mini-fillo (phyllo) shells (15 mini appetizer cups)
• sweet Hungarian paprika
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees .

2. Open the crabmeat and press the lid into the can to drain over the sink – you want to get as much liquid out as possible. Then, dump the crabmeat into a mixing bowl.

3. 

   Add the breadcrumbs, egg, mustard, Old Bay Seasoning, salt, and pepper to the mixing bowl.

4. 

   Stir well until the ingredients are well-combined; you want to make sure that all the seasonings are evenly distributed.

5. 

   Arrange the fillo shells on a baking sheet. Divide the crab mixture evenly among the cups, pressing lightly with your fingers to pack it in. Then, sprinkle each of the cups lightly with paprika. Finally, drizzle a little butter over each of the cups, until it's all used.

6. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and cook for 10 - 15 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges and warm throughout.

7. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the cake bites immediately to a platter. You should use a spatula for best results. Let the Crab Bites cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tips

• If desired, these can be served with bowls of tartar and cocktail sauce. Be sure to include small spoons so that guests can dab a little on.
• Garnish the platter with leafy greens like curly kale.
• These can be served hot from the oven or at room temperature, but they are best served hot. If you are taking them to someone's house, ask if you can cook them there, since they only take a few minutes. Otherwise, use a travel dish that will keep them warm en route.