Mushroom Wellington

Looking for a festive vegetarian dish for the holidays? Look no further than this delicious recipe courtesy of the Mushroom Council.

Recipe Ingredients:

6 portabella mushrooms, stalks trimmed and cleaned
3 onions, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3.5 ounces baby spinach
4 sprigs thyme
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, partially thawed
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Place a large frying pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. When the pan has come up to heat add the onion and reduce heat to low. Season with salt and ground black pepper and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. When caramelized, remove the onions from the pan and set aside.
3. Return the pan to the heat and add the baby spinach and cook until wilted. Remove the baby spinach from the pan and set aside.
4. Return the pan to the heat again and increase heat to medium. Add the butter and when the butter has melted and started to froth add the mushrooms, top side down, season with salt and ground black pepper, and cook for 5 minutes or until golden, before turning over. Once both sides have been browned remove from the heat and brush both sides of the mushrooms with the Dijon mustard.
5. Place a sheet of baking paper on the baking tray and then place the puff pastry sheet on top. Spread the caramelized onions over the middle third of the pastry, making sure to leave 1-inch at the edges. Top with half the baby spinach and then the mushrooms. Top the mushrooms with the remaining baby spinach.
6. Very carefully roll the pastry over the top of the mushroom mixture until you have a log. Tuck the edges under the pastry, ensuring the seam is facing the bottom.
7. Cut 2 holes in the middle of the pastry to allow steam to escape and very lightly coat with the egg wash. Then place the pastry in the freezer for 10 minutes before repeating with another layer of egg wash and freezing the pastry for 10 minutes.
8. Place the pastry back on the baking sheet and tray and place in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden.

Tofu Manicotti

Tofu, low-fat cheese, and fat-free milk help make this Italian favorite low in fat and low in calories. To fill manicotti shells, use a small spoon to fill each shell with about 1/4 cup of the filling. The spoon should be smaller in diameter than the shell so you can fill the shell without tearing the pasta.

Recipe Ingredients:

8 manicotti shells
Nonstick spray coating
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/8 teaspoon paprika
10 ounces tofu (fresh bean curd), drained
1 slightly beaten egg white
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

Cooking Directions:

1. Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Rinse in cold water; drain.
2. Spray a medium skillet with nonstick spray coating. Add mushrooms and onion; cook until tender. Stir in parsley, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Cool slightly.
3. Mash the tofu in a bowl. Stir in egg white, Parmesan cheese, and mushroom and onion mixture. Stuff each manicotti shell with about 1/4 cup of the tofu mixture. Arrange stuffed shells in a 12x7x2-inch baking dish.
4. For sauce, in a medium saucepan combine milk, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Pour sauce over pasta in baking dish.
5. Bake, covered, in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, 2 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): calories: 285, total fat: 7g, cholesterol: 13mg, sodium: 347mg, carbohydrate: 36g, protein: 19g.

Baked Polenta with Provolone, Roasted Peppers and Mushrooms

Versatile and delicious served as is, or topped with marinara sauce, or other complementary sauce, this makes a wonderful meatless entrée, appetizer or side dish.

Recipe Ingredients:

Polenta:
8 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups polenta
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, well dried and diced
1/4 cup Wisconsin Parmesan Cheese, grated
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Mushrooms:
1 tablespoon butter
4 cups (8 to 10 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms, e.g. mixture of portobello, cremini, shiitake
1 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup parsley, minced
Salt and pepper

10 to 12 thin slices (8 ounces) Wisconsin Provolone Cheese

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. For Polenta: In deep saucepan, bring water, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme to rolling boil. Add polenta in slow, steady stream, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue stirring 5 minutes. Add diced red pepper. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add Parmesan, 2 tablespoons butter and red pepper flakes. Stir well; set aside.
3. For Mushrooms: Melt butter in skillet. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add heavy cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook at gentle boil until cream reduces and thickens, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Butter 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spread half the polenta over bottom. Cover with half the slices of provolone, tearing slices to fit when necessary. Spread mushrooms over. Spread remaining polenta over and top with remaining provolone slices.
5. Bake about 15 minutes or until cheese melts, browns slightly and casserole is hot.
6. Let sit until the polenta sets and can be cut in servings (it will still be quite soft).

Makes 8 to 10 entrée servings; 24 appetizer servings.