Stuffed Mushrooms

 

This year has been tough, so I’ve been allowing myself small luxuries to help make things a little better. These luxuries have included taking long and luxurious baths, having a nice glass of wine while watching the sunset, and making gourmet dinners. One dish that my husband and I love, but don’t get to indulge in often, is stuffed mushrooms. I thought that I could share some of my favorite recipes here with you today.

Now there are some things to be aware of when you’re stuffing shrooms. There are a few different types of mushrooms you can choose from. The most commonly stuffed ones tend to be button, crimini, or portabella. These mushrooms are actually all the same species, just grown in different conditions and sold at different ages. But they are tasty and the perfect shape for stuffing. Mushrooms absorb water, so when you’re cleaning them, don’t wash them off if you can help it. You can get specialty mushroom brushes, or you can do what I do and use a paper towel (or spare toothbrush for really dirty shrooms) to get all the dirt off those mushrooms.

As usual, all of the following recipes are vegetarian and gluten-free, though I have included some dairy alternatives where I can. You can also add meat products if you want, some of these recipes would taste amazing with sausage, chicken, or shrimp added.

And now, on to the recipes!

1. Bring On The Greens!

Mushrooms and leafy greens tend to go together so well, I couldn’t resist combining them here. This recipe makes a great appetizer for decadent or romantic dinners and goes great with red wine.

Spinach and Kale Stuffed Mushrooms

1 pound Mushrooms (around 18-24)

4 tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil

4 Green Onions, diced

2 small cloves Garlic, minced

2 cups Baby Spinach, roughly chopped

2 cups Kale, roughly chopped

1 cup Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup shredded Mozarella Cheese, or Plant-Based Mozzarella

Instructions:

Wash and trim the end of stems from mushrooms. Pop the remaining stem out. Chop stems and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter (or use 2 tablespoons olive oil) and brush over mushrooms. Spray a shallow baking dish (about 8-inch square, or one which will fit mushrooms in one layer) with non-stick spray or grease with butter/olive oil. 

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil in a skillet. Chop green onions and combine with reserved chopped mushroom stems and garlic. Add to skillet along with the spinach and kale. Sauté until tender. Add bread crumbs, salt, and pepper to vegetable mixture and stir well. 

 Fill each mushroom cap with a little of the stuffing, mounding the filling. Top each filled mushroom cap with some of the shredded Mozzarella cheese. 

 Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and mushroom caps are tender.  

2. Some Like It Hot!

Mushrooms aren’t typically the type of food you think of when you think of hot spices. But you’d be amazed just how well they work, especially when you use homemade polenta to tie the flavors together. This recipe makes for a great snack or an appetizer for a Southwest meal. It also pairs well with a refreshing margarita or an ice-cold beer.

Southwest Serrano-Stuffed Shrooms

1 ½ cup Boiling Water

½ cup Yellow Cornmeal

½ teaspoon Salt

¼ teaspoon Pepper

½ cup shredded Cheddar Cheese, or Plant-Based Cheddar

1 pound Mushrooms (around 18-24)

4 tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil

½ cup Red Onion, minced

1 small clove Garlic, minced

1-2 Serrano Peppers, seeded and finely chopped (or more if you really want some heat)

1 small handful of fresh Cilantro, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

 In a large heavy saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil and slowly whisk in cornmeal. Stir in salt and pepper. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 12-17 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in ¼ cup of cheese (save the rest for later). 

 Spread into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

 Cut polenta into eight pieces. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

 Wash and trim the end of stems from mushrooms. Pop the remaining stem out. Chop stems and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter (or use 2 tablespoons olive oil) and brush over mushrooms. Spray a shallow baking dish (about 8-inch square, or one which will fit mushrooms in one layer) with non-stick spray or grease with butter/olive oil. 

 Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil in a skillet. Saute the mushroom stems, onion, peppers, and garlic until tender. Crumble up the grilled polenta and combine with the sauteed vegetables and cilantro.

 Fill each mushroom cap with a little of the stuffing, mounding the filling. Top each filled mushroom cap with some of the shredded cheddar cheese. 

 Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and mushroom caps are tender.  

3. Nutty For Mushrooms!

Another odd combination that works really well is nuts and mushrooms. This recipe combines pecans and mushrooms into a delicious treat. It’s a taste of gourmet comfort food in your very own home. Try it as an appetizer for any occasion.

Pecan Stuffed Mushrooms

1 pound Mushrooms (around 18-24)

4 tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil

½ cup Yellow Onion, minced

2 small cloves Garlic, minced

¼ cup Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs

¼ cup Pecans, finely chopped

¼ cup fresh Parsley, chopped

½ teaspoon dried Sage

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup shredded Parmesean Cheese, or Plant-Based Parmesean

Instructions:

Wash and trim the end of stems from mushrooms. Pop the remaining stem out. Chop stems and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter (or use 2 tablespoons olive oil) and brush over mushrooms. Spray a shallow baking dish (about 8-inch square, or one which will fit mushrooms in one layer) with non-stick spray or grease with butter/olive oil. 

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil in a skillet. Sauté mushroom stems, onion, and garlic until tender. Add bread crumbs, pecans, parsley, sage, salt, and pepper to vegetable mixture. Stir well.

 Fill each mushroom cap with a little of the stuffing, mounding the filling. Top each filled mushroom cap with some of the shredded Parmesan cheese. 

 Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and mushroom caps are tender.  

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Lyme Disease

As a fairly active person who spends more and more time outdoors, I hear a lot about Lyme Disease. It's commonly associated with people who go hiking, camping, or participate in other outdoors activities. So what exactly is it?

Simply put, Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection typically transferred by tick bites. There are three strains of bacteria from the Borrellia genus that cause this infection, though they are not solely spread through tick bites, they are all carried by ticks and tick bites are the most common way that they spread. In Europe and the Americas, there are over 10,000 cases of Lyme Disease being diagnosed every day, which makes this one of the most widespread infectious disease in these countries.

Not every tick bite will transmit this bacteria, but it's good to watch out for the signs of infection if you ever find a tick on your person. One of the first signs (in about 70%-80% of the cases) is a rash starting around the area of the tick bite. It is usually bulls-eye shaped and accompanied by pain, inflammation, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and/or muscle and joint aches. In rare cases it can cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), meningitis (inflammation of the protective tissues in the brain), and can weaken the immune system to allow for co-infections such as herpes. If caught early, this infection is easily treated with antibiotics. However, if allowed to continue it could cause problems with the nervous system or heart. There is also a chronic form of Lyme Disease that can cause health problems years down the road. Chronic Lyme Disease can effect quite a few systems in the body including the digestive system, the reproductive system, the nervous system, the skin, muscles and joints, and even the heart.

Quite a few of the symptoms of Lyme Disease are found in other diseases as well, so there are more than a few cases that have been misdiagnosed or even gone undiagnosed. Make sure that if you have these symptoms, especially if you've spent any time outside recently, you check with your doctor about the possibility of Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is easily treated with antibiotics, but there are some natural alternatives out there as well, but make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any natural treatments and the more extreme cases of this infection can cause major health problems for years after it's contracted.

Diet is one of the best places to start, and can be helpful even if you go the pharmaceutical route. One of the first steps is to cut back on processed foods, especially those that are super high in sugar. Make sure that you stay hydrated, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease releases toxins into your blood stream, drinking a good amount of water daily will help eliminate those toxins more effectively. Most people recommend drinking 2 liters of water a day when you have Lyme Disease. Try going gluten-free. Gluten can cause inflammation in your body, in the same areas that Lyme Disease causes inflammation. You could also try drastically reducing your carbohydrates. This can help keep your digestive system running smoothly, helping to reduce the effects of Lyme Disease on your digestion. However, there is one thing that you want to look to add to your diet if you have Lyme Disease. Coconut oil is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. It helps to boost immune function and can help improve your circulatory functions as well. Make sure you get cold-pressed, unrefined, coconut oil to get the most of this amazing oil.

While pharmaceuticals can treat Lyme Disease there are some herbs that can help manage the symptoms and some that may even work on the infection itself. Some immune boosting herbs are great for the early stages of Lyme Disease, these include astragalus, elderberry, and olive leaf. However, some of these may not be very effective during later stages, or for chronic Lyme Disease. Herbs such as clove and oregano are naturally antibacterial and will work specifically on the bacteria that causes the infection. Mushrooms such as chaga, reishi, shiitake, and cordyceps have shown quite a few positive results helping to mitigate symptoms and to fight the infection itself.

Of course, when dealing with infections, the best medicine is prevention. Lyme Disease is no different in this regard. When spending time outside, make sure to wear protective clothing (long sleeves, pants tucked into boots, etc) and to stick to areas with short grass, avoid tall grass and underbrush. Wear insect repellant. I make my own, and I always add lavender essential oil to it because lavender repels ticks very well. Make sure you check yourself, your family, and your pets for ticks whenever you spend any time outdoors. Make sure that if any ticks are found, you remove them safely.

I hope I have helped you understand more about Lyme Disease. If you would like to share any questions, comments, advice, or experiences, please leave them below.

Resources:

6 Powerful Home Remedies for Lyme Disease: Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/lyme-disease.html

11 Signs of Lyme Disease: Simply Health Today: http://simplyhealth.today/11-signs-lyme-disease/?utm_source=%2Blyme%20%2Bdisease&utm_medium=lymediseasesymptoms&utm_campaign=bing_us&msclkid=cbffdbd3ef61190b7a25807564e859c7

Chronic Lyme Disease: Lyme Disease.org: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/chronic-lyme/

How to Stay Safe During Tick Season and How to Avoid Chronic Lyme Disease with Dr. Jay Davidson: Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/podcast/chronic-lyme-disease/

Human Lyme Disease Symptoms and Signs: Web Health Advices: http://healthydraft.info/human-lyme-disease-symptoms-and-signs-with-pictures/10/

Natural Treatments for Lyme Disease: Organic Daily Post: https://organicdailypost.com/lyme-disease-natural-treatment/

What is Lyme Disease: Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/what-is-lyme-disease.html