Don't be Cranky - Get Crabby! (Crab ‘n Bacon Appetizers)

(Credit to Meghan Pembleton, Special for the Arizona Republic)

I’m going to be out of town for the next few days, so I’m writing this and putting it up earlier than usual. I admit I was at a loss for a dish this week, but stumbled across this fantastic use of frozen food in The Arizona Republic. It takes a mere 4 ingredients, and almost no preparation or cooking. I’m absolutely disgusted and unspeakably jealous that I didn’t think of it myself. (Photo credit Meghan Pembleton, for the Arizona Republic).

Crab & Bacon Stuffed Mushroom Caps

1 4-oz. crab cake (fresh or frozen will do – use the kind with breading)
16-20 medium sized fresh mushrooms (½ - ¾ lb.)
2 tablespoons Hormel Real Bacon bits (or other quality real bacon bit brand)
1 tablespoon butter

Cook crab cake according to package directions. Wash mushrooms and break off stems. Place cleaned mushroom caps upside down on ungreased baking sheet. Preheat oven to 375º F.

Dice the mushroom stems and place in small bowl. Add cooked crab cake and bacon bits and mash mixture with a fork; stir well to combine mushroom pieces to mix.

Spoon mixture into mushroom caps on baking sheet. Dot with butter. (Auntie tip: dice ice-cold butter up into tiny pieces, to make it easier to dot these smallish appetizers). Bake for 7-10 minutes.

Serves 4. One serving is about 4-5 stuffed caps; about 314 calories, 22 grams of fat, 90 mg. of cholesterol, 14 grams of protein and 16 grams of carbohydrate per serving. But, let's be serious - if we're eating crab- and bacon-stuffed mushroom caps glazed with butter, who's counting calories?

This is a really terrific use of frozen food. It’s the kind of appetizer that will get you the kudos of “home-cooked” or “hand-made,” when it is really more….what’s a good phrase? Ah…. “Home-assembled.” Trust me – nary a soul will guess that you used prepared or ready-made “help” in creating these tasty morsels. Yum!

And don’t forget…visit the Icebox Diner to read more than 1,000 consumer reviews of frozen foods, entrees, side dishes and meals.

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