Bacon And Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 20 small whole mushrooms (about 10 oz)
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 package (4 ounces) cream cheese, slightly softened
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 bacon slices, finely chopped
• 1/4 green bell pepper, very finely chopped
• salt
• cayenne pepper
• paprika
• fresh lemon juice (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a medium baking dish with a small amount of butter.
2. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully break off stems.
3. Dip all mushrooms into melted butter to coat the outside of the caps. You will have some butter left - use it later to pour into the baking pan. Place mushroom caps upside down (caps side up) into the baking dish, sprinkle a little bit of salt on top, and bake for 10-15 min to get extra water out.
4. After 10-15 minutes, remove mushrooms from the oven, flip them all over, draining the caps of any accumulated liquid - drain it right back into the baking dish.
5. In the mean time, in a medium bowl combine and mix softened cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, bacon bits, finely chopped bell pepper, a splash of cayenne pepper. Season with salt to taste. Note: cream cheese should be softened but not too soft, not melted. Mixture should be very thick.
6. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing, slightly mounding the mixture. Arrange the mushroom caps in the same baking dish. Sprinkle a small amount of paprika over the cheese stuffed mushrooms (for color, mainly). Pour any remaining butter you have into the baking pan, not over the mushrooms directly, but in the bottom of the pan.
7. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot.
8. Optional: Add lemon juice to the butter in the end.
9. Garnish with freshly diced bell pepper, chopped green onions, or parsley.

Source:Julia's Album