Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

    
     I hemmed and hawed, wondering if I should share this recipe for Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms with you.  I decided when I started this blog that I would not post recipes that I did not like or that were just not made for dutch oven cooking.  A couple of things I've tried have been not only unappetizing but downright disgusting, sometimes I wonder if cookbook authors even take the time to test their recipes.  This recipe from Epicurious had all my favorite ingredients, mushrooms, blue cheese and bacon, I mean, how can you go wrong?  I stuffed the mushrooms with the smokey, creamy filling, placed them in my oven and set the coals to what I thought was the right temperature.  Was I ever crushed when I found my beautiful mushrooms floating in a sea of cheesy soup.  This recipe got rave reviews so I can only think that I overcooked them in too hot of an oven.  They were still delicious, albeit a bit soupy.  I ended up serving them over thick slices of homemade toast and they were scrumptious.  I made them in my 12 inch oven and would suggest cooking them with 12 coals in a ring around the bottom and 20-22 coals on the lid.  Bake them at 350 degrees and after 10 minutes take a peek to see how they are doing, they should be done after 20 minutes.  I will definitely made them again, if you're a blue cheese and bacon lover like I am, these are definitely right up your alley.

Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
24 large fresh mushrooms
1 carton (8 ounces) reduced-fat spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
4 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup bacon bits, divided

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Remove stems from mushrooms and set caps aside; discard stems or save for another use.
     In medium bowl combine cream cheese, blue cheese, onions, garlic and 1/4 cup bacon bits.
     Stuff into mushroom caps, a scant tablespoonful in each one.
     Place in prepared dutch oven.
     Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup bacon bits.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

Sprinkle stuffed mushrooms with crumbled bacon

Too high of a temperature caused them to become soupy

Still delicious in spite of being a bit overcooked