Ground Beef and Ham Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 20 large whole fresh mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (to taste) (optional)
• 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 4 slices ham, chopped
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs
• seasoning salt or white salt
• fresh ground black pepper (in place of black pepper if you prefer spicy) or cayenne (in place of black pepper if you prefer spicy)
• mozzarella cheese, shredded or parmesan cheese, if desired

Instructions

1. Prepare a large baking sheet.
2. Carefully remove the stems off of the mushroom caps and finely chop; set aside.
3. Place the mushroom caps stem side down on a baking sheet and place in a 375 degree F oven for about 12-15 minutes to release their moisture; set aside until cool enough to handle.
4. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet until hot and cook the ground beef with onion and garlic until the beef is browned (about 8 minutes) stirring occasionally.
5. Add in the chopped mushroom stems, chopped ham, Parmesan cheese and sherry; cook stirring for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and add in the bread crumbs, salt and pepper (or cayenne pepper if using); mix to combine.
7. Divide and stuff the ground beef mixture into each mushroom cap pushing down into the cap using you fingers or the back of a spoon.
8. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella cheese or Parmesan cheese.
9. Set oven to broil heat and broil the caps about 3-inches from heat for about 2-5 minutes.
10. Serve hot.