Stuffed Mushrooms

I made these for a Memorial Day appetizer... it was a first time recipe, and it was a hit! They're pretty easy to make and are very tasty!

Ingredients:

24 ounces, White Button Mushrooms (or whatever small fresh mushrooms you can find)
⅓ pounds Hot Pork Sausage

½ whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced

4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced

8 ounces, Cream Cheese

1 whole Egg Yolk

¾ cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated

⅓ cups Dry White Wine

Salt And Pepper (to Taste)

Directions: 

De-stem the mushrooms, making a cavity.

Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.

Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat. Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate. Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.

In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.

Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.

Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not extremely hot. Garnish with minced parsley if you're feeling fancy.

White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. light brown sugar
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1-3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 to 1 c. white chocolate chips
3/4 c. dried cranberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray 2 cookie sheets. Cream butter with sugars, using a mixer, until fluffy (about 30 seconds). Beat in egg and vanilla; beat for another 30 seconds. Add dry ingredients; mix at a low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries. Drop cookie dough onto the prepared pans. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Makes 24 cookies.

*instead of using white chocolate chips and cranberries, you can use espresso beans, chocolate chips, walnuts, or pretty much whatever you have in your cupboard or lying around the kitchen :)