Holiday Feast

Happy Holidays from "Can a Girl Get a Break"

Its that time of the year and it's your turn to host and with the holidays right around the corner everyone is trying to figure out what to feed their families this holiday season. You can always stick to your traditional turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing mix or you can spice it up a bit and add a few nontraditional dishes to the mix. Adding a few nontraditional items to the menu will ensure you and your family wont get tired of having the same food every year; so instead of having stuffing/dressing replace it with shrimp scampi or asparagus casserole, instead of cranberry sauce do pickled beets or deviled eggs. If you don't want turkey or ham fry some chicken or smother some pork chops in onions,mushrooms and gravy. If you really want to mix it up you can do lobster or sushi instead of turkey. However if you decide to do turkey please don't hesitate to spice that turkey up! I love to serve up my famous "Teriayki Turkey" no more dry tasteless turkeys in my house for the holidays. I have even tried Hawaiian marinade on my turkey one year and it was AMAZING! Its fun making things from scratch I love to cook and have the house smelling like delicious spices. One of my favorite side dishes is stuffed mushrooms; so if you love stuffed mushrooms and are looking for a good replacement dish from your typical traditional Thanksgiving sides TRY my simple recipe below! 

2-3 packs of portabella mushrooms (can use jumbo if you want)

2-3 packs of fresh spinach (keep in mind spinach tends to wither down once cooked)

1 can of seasoned bread crumbs (I like Italian seasoned)

1-2 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese (depending on how cheesy you want it)

1 bottle of white cooking wine

1/4 tsp. of salt (or just salt to taste)

Prep work: Wash mushrooms then take stem out, lightly butter baking tray (I use cookie sheet) then place mushrooms on sheet with a little space in between (this makes it easier when it comes to removing them from sheet when stuffed; in other words less mess). Also thoroughly wash your spinach.

Pre-heat oven to 325 for 5 minutes then place mushrooms in oven for 10-15 minutes before stuffing them (this allows the juices to settle) drain juice from all mushrooms before adding stuffing mix (If you don't do this step first your mushrooms will be extra soggy because the juice from mushrooms mixed with the spinach stuffing mix will create a sloppy mess...trust me I learned the hard way lol.). While mushrooms are pre baking prepare your spinach stuffing mix. 

This step should be done while mushrooms are releasing its juices.
Spinach Mix :  In medium sized pot add 1/4 cup of water,  1 bag of spinach, 1/4 cup of milk. Let spinach wither down then add more spinach to pot (recipe is per bag so if using 2 bags of spinach double ingredients or add until you get desired texture, I like mine thick and creamy). Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of seasoned bread crumbs. Stir until thick creamy texture or desired texture if its too thick for you just slowly pour in more milk until it loosens up. Once everything is blended together turn stove off and let sit.

Once juice are drained from mushrooms place them back on cookie sheet or baking pan and fill them with spinach stuffing mix. When stuffing process is all done dash each mushroom with white cooking wine then lightly sprinkle more breadcrumbs on top and place them in oven for 15-20 mins with oven on 350 degrees.Take stuffed mushrooms from oven and let cool for 10 minutes then let your guess enjoy! (Mushrooms can still be hot on the inside so eat with caution).

Hope you and your loved ones enjoy this recipe! Please come back and let me know how it turned out!!! Also come by and look for more Holiday Recipes from yours truly....

Love Always,
SunShyne B.