Martinis and Mushrooms

A couple nights ago I had two of my good friends over for martinis and to watch the classic film Guys and Dolls. There were laughs, and a few too many of the gin and lemon drinks. But it was a good time and we baked up some wonderful food. Unfortunately the night started off so nicely that I had forgotten to snap pictures of the delightful goodies we treated ourselves to that night. Luckily for you I still remember the recipes!

Stuffed Crimini or Button Mushrooms (makes 5 mushrooms for 3 people)

Ingredients:

• 15 brown crimini mushrooms
• 4 leaves of kale
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 tblsp olive oil
• 1/ 4 yellow onion
• 3 oz of feta cheese
• 1 1/2 tblsp balsamic vinaigrette (or to taste)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Remove stems from mushrooms, set to side in a greased 8x8 baking dish. (You can keep the stems for another meal if you like)
2. Mince garlic and onion, then sauté with olive oil in a small sauté pan. When onions become clear and garlic is browned,  place the mixture into a small mixing bowl.
3. Remove leafy parts from stem of kale, and place in saute pan with vinaigrette, fry until leaves are soft but not totally limp and wrinkly.
4. Next place the kale in the mixing bowl with garlic and onion. Add feta and mix together.
5. Then take pinches of mixture and stuff your mushrooms, keep going until all mushrooms have a generous amount in them.
6. Place mushrooms in preheated oven for 20 minutes. (oven temps are different so keep an eye on your little morsels) 

My friend made this next one, it's a recipe we both adore she just added a nutty twist. (Pun intended)

Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese and Pecan Stuffed Dates

Ingredients:

• 20 pre-pitted dates, or if you don't mind the pitting like us you can save a few cents and get ones you have to pit yourself.
• Toothpicks
• 10.5 or more goat cheese (you can never have too much)
• 10 slices of bacon
• 20 Pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Pit your dates if you chose this route. 
3. Then stuff three quarters of the way with goat cheese, placing a pecan on top as you stuff each one.
4. Next slice your bacon into halves an wrap each date with a half of bacon, holding the ends together by poking them with a toothpick. (I find these delights are better if the two ends of bacon are on the opposite side of the opening to the dates.
5. Take a cookie sheet and cover with aluminum foil.
6. Then place dates a good inch and half away from each other. 
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Or whenever bacon gets crispy!

Classi Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz vermouth
• Ice

I usually add a spritz of lemon, and to keep my cocktails cool but not watered down, I use frozen grapes.

Seriously, both of these appetizers and this martini made for happy bellies and happy girls. My other friend made these melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies, so simple, and so good. If I get the recipe (and her permission) I'll try to get them on here. So sorry for the lack of pictures, but the imagination makes things so much better no?