STUFFED MUSHROOMS WITH SAUSAGE AND CHEESE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop them finely. Set aside. Place the mushroom caps in a shallow bowl and toss with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and Marsala. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, crumbling it with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook the sausage for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it's completely browned. Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in the scallions and garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the panko crumbs, stirring to combine evenly with all the other ingredients. Finally, swirl in the mascarpone and continue cooking until the mascarpone has melted and made the sausage mixture creamy. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, parsley, and season with salt and pepper, to taste, Cool slightly.
• Fill each mushroom generously with the sausage mixture. Arrange the mushrooms in a baking dish large enough to hold all the mushrooms in a snug single layer. Bake until the stuffing for 50 minutes, until the stuffing is browned and crusty.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
• Separate caps and stems while cleaning the mushrooms.
• If cleaning with water, let them drain for a bit.
• Start cooking the sausage in frying pan, at a medium to medium/high temperature.
• While the sausage is cooking, put the cream cheese into a mixing bowl so it can soften and mince the stem pieces.
• Spice the sausage to taste. Garlic is a good addition.
• Just before the sausage is done, add the stem pieces and finish cooking.
• Drain off the excess grease and add the sausage/stem mixture into the cream cheese.
• Mix together well using a wooden spoon or your hands. Be careful, as it will be rather hot.
• Set the caps into a 13x9 pan (or larger) with sides.
• Optional! Melt enough butter to just put a little in the bottom of each cap or just brush some over the top of each after they're filled. You can put any extra butter in the bottom of the pan.
• Fill the caps with the cream cheese/sausage/stem mix.
• Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the pan, just enough to cover the bottom.
• Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the tops are crusty and the mushrooms have turned dark.
• Scoop them out of the pan with a slotted spoon and arrange them on a plate.
• Serve warm. They reheat well, so you can make them ahead of time.
• *VARIATION 1: Add dried bread crumbs to the mix to make a larger batch without adding more cream cheese or sausage. Onions are also another popular addition.
• *VARIATION 2: Use one 8oz. box of cream cheese to two 8oz. pkgs of sausage. It makes for a larger batch that is less rich and tastes just as good.
• *FUN HINTS: The cream cheese mix is also very good on bread or crackers! This comes in handy if you you think there might be someone who doesn't like mushrooms - save some of the mix to the side for them to dip with.