Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #24)(33)

“How long?” Hannah asked.

“Three minutes or so should do it.” Sally smiled at Hannah. “Do you think it’s possible for you to wait that long?”

“It’ll be hard, but I can do it,” Hannah declared, reaching out to touch one of the mushrooms and drawing her finger back quickly. “You’re right, Sally. I’ll wait.”

“It’s that or you won’t taste anything else for the rest of the night.” Sally reached for the wine bucket to fill Lynne’s wineglass all the way and pour a glass for Hannah. “Just sip a little wine and keep on talking. It’ll distract you.”

“How can we be distracted when those mushrooms smell so wonderful?” Lynne asked her.

“I don’t know, but I do know that it’s a good thing I’m not that hungry,” Sally replied. “If I hadn’t had lunch earlier, I would have burned my mouth when I took them out of the oven.”





RUSTY’S CHEESE AND GARLIC STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.



8 ounces white mushrooms

? cup Panko bread crumbs

? cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 ounces Pepper Jack cheese

1 Tablespoon salted butter

? teaspoon minced garlic

salt, fresh ground pepper, and smoked paprika (to taste)





Prepare a standard-size cookie sheet by spraying it with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray.



Clean the mushrooms with a soft brush or damp paper towel.



Remove and discard the mushroom stems.



Mix the Panko bread crumbs and the grated Parmesan cheese in a medium-size bowl and set it aside on the counter.



Dice the Pepper Jack cheese into 1-inch squares and set them aside in another bowl.



Melt the salted butter in a 9-inch or larger saucepan on the stovetop over MEDIUM heat.



Add the garlic.



Stir everything together and cook until the contents turn a light golden brown. This will take about 2 minutes.



Add the cleaned mushroom caps on top of the garlic and butter with the cavity facing up.



Cook the mushrooms for 2 minutes.



Turn the mushrooms over and sprinkle them with salt and freshly ground black pepper.



Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.



Remove the mushrooms from the pan while still firm and slightly browned, and place them on your prepared cookie sheet with the cavity facing up.



Insert the Pepper Jack cheese squares into the cavity of each mushroom.



Lift one mushroom at a time with tongs, dip into the Panko mixture, and return them to the cookie sheet with the Pepper Jack center facing upward.



Use a Tablespoon to generously top each mushroom with the remaining Panko and Parmesan mixture, covering the Pepper Jack center. Finish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika.



Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven.



Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.



Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let stand on a cold stovetop burner or a wire rack on the counter for several minutes before serving.



Rusty’s Note: You can prepare these mushrooms for baking in advance. Simply stop before baking the mushrooms, cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap, and leave it out on the kitchen counter. Then preheat your oven when your company comes and bake them. If you do this, it will be 15 minutes before you can serve them to your guests.



Rusty’s 2nd Note: As an alternative to Pepper Jack cheese, use your favorite cheeses to stuff the mushrooms. I have tried goat cheese, Dilled Havarti, Smoked Gouda, Cambozola, and Brie with rave reviews.



Hannah’s Note: These appetizers are simply yummy. When I tried them, both Norman and Mike raved about them. Michelle and I decided that we’re going to double the recipe, get two plastic-covered cookie sheets to get them ready to go in the oven, and take them over to Mother and Doc’s penthouse so that the whole family can taste them.



Yield: Enough delicious appetizers to serve 6 people.





Chapter Nine


“I’m really sorry that things aren’t good with Tom,” Hannah said, once Sally and Dot had left. “I can understand why you came here early to try to work things out.”

“It didn’t exactly turn out the way I planned, though. We can’t work on our marriage if Tom is nowhere around.”

“That’s true. Have you thought about what you’ll do if it doesn’t work out with Tom?”

Lynne gave a little shrug that was intended to be casual, but Hannah had known Lynne all through college and she could tell that her friend was deeply upset.

“I guess if things don’t get better, I’ll have to . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and blinked away a tear. “I’ll have to give Tom the divorce he wants.”

“He’s asked you for a divorce?” Hannah tried not to look as surprised as she felt. She hadn’t realized that things between Lynne and Tom were this bad.

“Yes. That was the last thing he said to me before he left this morning. Maybe Tom’s right and we should divorce. I just don’t know. The only thing I know for sure is that we can’t go on this way.”