Stuffed Baby Bella Bites
The Recipe Redux – May, 2016: Small Bites

For gatherings big or small, often the perfect party dishes come in little packages. Small bites are done right when packed with big flavor. It’s much so easier for your guests to mingle around with a little plate of goodies versus a big dinner dish.

Stuffed mushrooms are a definite party favorite, but their fillings are often not very heart-friendly. Fortunately, there are ways to make delicious mushroom appetizers without all the added saturated fat. Here we chose to stuff the savory mushrooms with flavorful, heart-healthy veggies. The red pepper flakes add a little nice heat to each bite as well.

When prepping the mushrooms, do make sure to save the stems so you can later add them into your next vegetable stock.

Planning on using plain, and not marinated, artichokes for this recipe? Then I recommend you add a 1/2 tablespoon vinegar to your saute pan while as you are cooking the shallots and spices. But the marinated artichokes will give you the most flavor, so do try your best to use those instead.

Have a big crowd coming over? This recipe can easily be multiplied.
Bonus: There’s no such thing as eating too many of them!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound Baby portobella mushrooms
2 teaspoons Olive oil, divided
1/8 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon Smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon Dried mustard
1 large Shallot, minced (about 1/4 cup)
5 cups Baby spinach
3/4 cup Artichokes, marinated, minced
salt and pepper

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Carefully remove the stems from the baby portobella mushrooms. With a small spoon, gently scrape gills out from the underneath of the mushrooms. lightly baste outside of mushrooms with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Set aside.

Add the second teaspoon of olive oil into a heated saute pan over medium high heat. Add the red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, dried mustard and shallots and saute until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Add baby spinach and saute until the spinach is softened, about another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the minced artichoke. Lightly season with salt and pepper.

Stuff mushrooms with the artichoke/spinach mixture, making sure to pile the filling high for each bite. Bake mushrooms until mushrooms are fully cooked, about 15-18 minutes.

Plate the stuffed mushrooms, making sure to drizzle some of the liquid on the bottom of the baking pan onto each bite.

Serve warm.

Makes about a dozen servings
Serving size: 2 Baby Bella Stuffed Bites