Jean and Fernanda are two of my favorite girlfriends.  They come from Massachusetts, and we have gotten into a LOT of trouble together.  I love Jean and Fernanda!  They are both great cooks, and here is the recipe for a wonderful mushroom appetizer Fernanda served recently.  Simple.  Oh so simple.

Crock Pot Ranch Mushrooms (serve with toothpicks)

1/2 cup (or one stick), melted butter

1 lb. cleaned whole mushrooms

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix

Place 1/2 of mushrooms in crockpot.  Pour 1/2 the melted butter over, and sprinkle 1/2 the HV mix.  Repeat with top layer.  (I toss them all).  Cook in crockpot on low for 3 hours.  Serve on a plate with toothpicks.  Pour a little of the butter over.  NOTE:  When Fernanda, who is a Clean Freak, was cleaning up after dinner, she started to throw away the remaining butter.  I asked to take it home, and used it for all kinds of stuff:  spread on toast, also great on Baked potatoes.  ask me how I know…..

Here’s another excellent Mushroom Appetizer also in the crockpot:  SAUSAGE STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Clean mushrooms and pull out stems.  (I usually take the good parts of the stems and chop them finely with a little chopped onion and garlic).  Add this to 1 lb. raw Italian sausage, about 1/2 cup bread crumbs and 1 beaten egg.  Mix thoroughly and stuff each mushroom with some of the meat.  Pour a jar of your favorite Pasta sauce over.  Cook in crockpot on high for two hours and low for two hours.  Serve on garlic bread.   mmmmmm……