Crabby Portabellas

Crabby Portabellas

-Jens Creation

Here's what you need:

• 4 large Portabella mushrooms - stems removed and finely chopped
• 1/4 c. finely minced Onion or Shallots
• 2/4 c. finely chopped Spinach
• 4 oz. softened Cream Cheese
• 1/2 c. shredded, Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 2-6 oz. cans Crab Meat, drained well
• 2 slices Wheat Bread, torn in very small pieces (divided)
• 1/4 t. each - Garlic Powder & Onion Powder
• 1/2 t. Dill Weed
• 1/8 t. Cayenne Pepper (if you're like me and love a little kick, use 1/4t!)
• A few grinds of Kosher Salt & Pepper
• 2 T. butter (to be drizzled on top last)

Here's what you do:
-Heat oven to 400 Degrees
-Clean the mushrooms with a dry cloth.  With the stems side facing up, put on a baking dish sprayed with Pam.
-Bake in oven until the juices show and tender, about 15 minutes (If larger mushrooms, ad a bit more time).
-Remove from oven & drain any juices that have collected in the mushrooms.

-While mushrooms were cooking, mix together in a bowl all the other ingredients, cinluding the finely chopped mushroom stems & half of the torn bread.
-Divide the mixture between the mushrooms.  Top each with the rest of the bread crumbs, drizzle butter over each.
-Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes, or until the bread crumbs have browned & heated thoroughly.


Enjoy!! Let me know if you try it and especially, if you love it!! We all did!!

Crusty Blue Pigs

Crusty Blue Pigs

-Jens Creation

Here's what you need:

• 8 oz. Italian Sausage (I use the kind NOT in log form, but ground like hamburger meat.  It's just easier but either kind is fine.  And... for those that love Firey Foods, try Hot Italian Sausage!!)
• 2 medium Yellow Onions, thinly sliced
• 2 t. Fennel Seeds
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• 1 Sheet Frozen Puff Pastry, thawed
• 2 to 3 oz. Blue Cheese

Here's what you do:
-Heat oven to 400 degrees. 
-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
-Cook the Italian Sausage in a large frying pan until browned and cooked through.
-Transfer cooked sausage to a bowl

-Discard all but 2 T. of the sausage drippings from the frying pan.
-Add the onions, fennel & pepper and cook, stirring often, until tender & caramelized - about 12 to 15 minutes
-Stir sausage into the onions

-Lay the pastry flat on the prepared baking sheet, spread the sausage/onion mixture over the pastry, leaving a 1/2 inch border
-Crumble Blue Cheese over the top
-Bake until the pastry is golden & crisp along the edges (about 25 to 28 minutes)
-Cut into squares and serve hot or at room temperature 


These make great appetizers or as a fun Friday night meal pared with zesty homemade fries!!!