Category: Favorite Things

Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms

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This is one of my favorite holiday appetizers to make for a crowd.  This recipe is adapted from one of my favorite food network star’s, Ina Garten.  It is simple to make and will please everyone’s tastebuds.  The hint of sherry and fresh flavors really make them special.  You should make them for your Christmas Day appetizer this year…it’s just that easy.

Ingredients

16 extra large white mushrooms, olive oil, 2 1/2 tbsp sherry, 1 lb. Bob Evans or Jimmy Dean sage sausage, 6 scallions minced, 2 garlic cloves minced, 2/3 c. panko, 5 oz. cream cheese, 1/3 cup parmesan, 1/2 bunch fresh parsley minced, salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop finely.  Set this aside.  Place the caps in a shallow baking dish and toss with 3 tbsp of olive oil and sherry.  Set this aside.

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Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the sausage.  Make sure to crumble the sausage in the pan as you are cooking it.  Once the sausage is browned, add the chopped mushroom stems and cook until tender.  Stir in the scallions and garlic and cook for another five minutes.  Add the panko crumbs and stir well to combine everything.  Lastly, fold in the cream cheese on low heat and continue until the cream cheese is melted and thoroughly incorporated.  Turn the heat off.  Stir in the parm and parsley.  Then add salt and pepper to taste.

Once the mixture is cool enough to handle, fill each mushroom with the sausage mixture.  There will be plenty of stuffing so make sure to put a heaping pile of it in the mushroom.  Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer in the same baking dish in which you have pre-treated the mushroom caps.  Make sure they are snug in the pan so they do not move around when you place them in the oven.
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Bake until the stuffing is browned. You can only imagine how great they will look once they are cooked. I got so engrossed in the dinner party in which I served them at and forgot to take a final picture. You can check out Ina’s recipe here if you want to take a look at the final product.

A Ghoulish Garnish

CarrieLeave a comment

Today, I finally got the chance to decorate the house for Halloween.  It was time to put away the beach decor and begin the pumpkin primping.  I have a collection of decorations that have been passed down to me and those that I have bought myself.  The eclectic mix makes for a good start.  Over the years, I intend to add a decoration or two more to trim the house.  My favorite decorations so far are the ceramic witch and haunted house that light up.  They were made by my mom when she was younger at a ceramic studio.  They are irreplaceable and it is something that is a timeless piece that I will be able to pass down to my children.  I also like the Bethlehem lighting pieces from QVC.  The wreath and the garland are from this company and they are not only beautiful on their own but when they are lit at night it provides a great ambience for any occasion.  Happy October everyone!

Shady Maple Restaurant

Carrie2 Comments

On Tuesday, I went to Lancaster to shop at the outlets and to visit assorted small Amish shops that are tradition on a trip to the Dutch country.  On my way there, I always stop for breakfast at the Shady Maple Restaurant with my parents.  There you will a smorgasbord of Amish delights.  You can’t pass up the whoopie pies or the sweet potato pancake when you are there.  Also, leave room for all the Amish meats like the smoked turkey sausage or the freshly made scrapple.  I only stop twice a year because that’s enough gluttony for one year, trust me!  My next post will give you the recipe to my favorite Amish tradition for the fall, pumpkin whoopie pies.