Stuffed Mushrooms

These fun little mushrooms are easy to make and always a hit.

Start by removing the stems and hulling out the mushrooms.

Set these aside to be used in the filling mixture.

Filling:

About 1/2 lb of ground beef (or sausage) for every 10 mushrooms, cooked well. Add cream cheese, to taste, and minced mushroom stems while still warm.

Then add some of the following: bell peppers, garlic, parsley, basil, paremasan cheese, bacon, onion, spinage. Mincing the larger vegtabels.

Stuff the mushrooms and top with paremsan cheese and 2 pinches of shredded cheddar cheese.

Place on cookie sheet and broil on medium for just a few minutes, checking frequiently, until the cheese on top is melted and slightly browned. Mushrooms will still be crisp. Add chives or other garnish as desired.

And you will have a show stopping addition to your next feast!

From my Calendar: Preparing for Father's Day

Father's Day is coming up fast!!

First I wanted to share with you these little father's day cards that we've made. The 'jacket' is made from an 8.5 x11in piece of card stock or construction paper with the ends folded in till they touch and the "lapels" folded back. (The lapels are a bit tricky so practice on a scrap piece first). Next add a "shirt" by cutting and gluing a piece of colorful scrapbook paper to fit inside back panel of the card. Add white triangles for shirt collars and a long "kite" shape for a tie. A triangle for a handkerchief. And hot glue on a couple of buttons. Lots of fun, a little tricky to cut right, but almost impossible to mess up!

OK, on to the planning:

Some things to think about: 

Are your having a special meal on that day?

Are your buying or making a card?

Are you going on an outing? 

(here is my list of 43 small family outings.)

What are you giving as a gift?

Some ideas:

• Do things for him on that day or the day before such as wash his car, mow the lawn for him, put up a hammock, anything to help him relax on that day.
• Make a Father/son or daughter scrapbook
• Breakfast in bed, and include a menu with a special lunch and dinner that he will be treated to on that day.
• Make a Father's day basket full of his favorite things or with hobby accessories (such as a football, golf, bbq, or fishing basket)
• And here are some common father's day gift ideas: golf gear, fishing poles, paint ball gear and sports equipment in general, teck gifts, exercise equipment, tools, ties or shirt and tie sets, mens shoes, and mens clothing in general, razors, watches and pocket watches, car accessories, framed photos, and baby footprints. 

How to get rid of aphids

Ugly little buggers. I was going to blog about something else, but was looking out my window admiring the beautiful Hot Pink roses that grace my window and what did I see but aphids. I was so surprised, we have not had any in years. The reason? I know a trick and here it is: A dash of dish soap (biodegradable is best) and one part food oil to two parts water mixed in a spray bottle will does the trick. Bye, bye aphids!