Yield: 8 Ethnicity: New American   Meal Type: Side Dish, Appetizer   Occasion: Thanksgiving, Tailgate, Superbowl, New Year's   Preparation Method: Saute, Bake   Product Type: Turkey Sausage - Italian

8 (3 to 4-inch diameter) Portabella mushroom caps

1 Pound HOT ITALIAN TURKEY SAUSAGE

1 Teaspoon fennel seed, crushed

1/2 Cup fresh whole wheat bread crumbs

8-Ounces cream cheese, softened

1/8 Teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 Cup olive oil

1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese

Remove stems from mushrooms and coarsely chop the stems. Squeeze sausage from casings into a large skillet. Sauté sausage over medium heat, breaking up sausage into small pieces. Add chopped stems and fennel seed to pan and sauté until sausage is cooked through. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon into a medium size bowl. Stir bread crumbs into sausage. Add softened cream cheese, cayenne, salt and pepper; mix well. Place mushroom caps on baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Brush mushrooms, top and bottom with small amount of olive oil. Fill each cavity with ¼ cup sausage mixture. Sprinkle each with Parmesan cheese. Bake stuffed mushrooms in a preheated 325 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until mushrooms and stuffing are hot throughout.

Recipe Source: Recipe provided by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council