Get Your Vitamin D from Stuffed Mushrooms!

 

My friend Ilene was recently researching how to get more Vitamin D from food, and she discovered that mushrooms have quite a bit of it. And if they are left out in a place where they are bathed in sunlight for a day or two, the mushrooms make more vitamin D!

“Quite an exciting bit of information,” she says.  “So I bought some mushrooms and left them out for a day on the kitchen counter.  I put them in a single layer on a flat plate in front of a window.  Then I used them to make stuffed mushrooms as part of dinner.

“I had no way to test the Vitamin D amount before and after, so I had to take it on faith. But they did have a nice sunbath!”

Stuffed Mushrooms – serves 4 as an appetizer or side dish

8-ounce package white button mushrooms (about 16 mushrooms)

1 stalk celery, cut into small pieces

1/2 medium onion, cut into small pieces

2 cloves garlic, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons plain bread crumbs

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more if needed

Clean the mushrooms, using a damp paper towel to wipe clean and remove all dirt spots.  Remove the mushroom stems and chop them into small pieces. 

Put the olive oil in a frying pan and begin heating over medium heat.  Add the mushroom stems, along with the onions, celery and garlic, and sauté for about 5-to-7 minutes, or until the onions start to turn translucent.

Add the bread crumbs and oregano to the pan and mix together. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the bread crumbs have soaked up the pan juices.  Remove the pan from heat and transfer the bread crumb mixture to a small bowl.

Put the mushrooms on a microwave safe dish or pie plate. Then fill the mushrooms with the stuffing mixture.  Cover the plate with a microwave safe cover and microwave on high for about 5 minutes. Mushrooms are done when they are brown in color and soft.  Serve immediately or set aside and reheat when needed. 

Note: Leftover mushroom stuffing can be used as a side dish or snack. It can also be pureed into a dip in a blender or food processor. For a creamier dip, add a small amount of yogurt, sour cream or mayonnaise. 

                For easy-to-make recipes, order "Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen!"