stand on a cold stovetop burner or a wire rack on the counter for several minutes before serving.
Rusty’s Note: You can prepare these mushrooms for baking in advance. Simply stop before baking the mushrooms, cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap, and leave it out on the kitchen counter. Then preheat your oven when your company comes and bake them. If you do this, it will be 15 minutes before you can serve them to your guests.
Rusty’s 2nd Note: As an alternative to Pepper Jack cheese, use your favorite cheeses to stuff the mushrooms. I have tried goat cheese, Dilled Havarti, Smoked Gouda, Cambozola, and Brie with rave reviews.
Hannah’s Note: These appetizers are simply yummy. When I tried them, both Norman and Mike raved about them. Michelle and I decided that we’re going to double the recipe, get two plastic-covered cookie sheets to get them ready to go in the oven, and take them over to Mother and Doc’s penthouse so that the whole family can taste them.
Yield: Enough delicious appetizers to serve 6 people.
Chapter Nine
“I’m really sorry that things aren’t good with Tom,” Hannah said, once Sally and Dot had left. “I can understand why you came here early to try to work things out.”
“It didn’t exactly turn out the way I planned, though. We can’t work on our marriage if Tom is nowhere around.”
“That’s true. Have you thought about what you’ll do if it doesn’t work out with Tom?”
Lynne gave a little shrug that was intended to be casual, but Hannah had known Lynne all through college and she could tell that her friend was deeply upset.
“I guess if things don’t get better, I’ll have to . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and blinked away a tear. “I’ll have to give Tom the divorce he wants.”
“He’s asked you for a divorce?” Hannah tried not to look as surprised as she felt. She hadn’t realized that things between Lynne and Tom were this bad.
“Yes. That was the last thing he said to me before he left this morning. Maybe Tom’s right and we should divorce. I just don’t know. The only thing I know for sure is that we can’t go on this way.”
“I’m really sorry, Lynne.” Hannah reached out to pat Lynne’s hand.
“So am I. It was so good at the beginning. Then we were always together. But now I don’t see Tom for weeks at a time. He says it’s business, but . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and an expression of fear and pain crossed her face. “I’m not sure that’s it.”
“Do you think it could be . . .” Hannah paused, wondering how to phrase her question, but she knew that even if she found the perfect words, it wouldn’t be easy for Lynne to hear. “Do you think it could be another woman?”
“I don’t think so,” Lynne replied immediately. “I really don’t, Hannah. It’s something else, and he won’t tell me what.”
“Do you think it has anything to do with his business?”
“He told me it doesn’t.” Lynne drew a deep breath. “The logical conclusion is that Tom found another woman that he cares for more than he cares for me. But . . . I don’t think that’s it, either.”
“Maybe you’ll learn more when he comes back,” Hannah suggested, hoping that it would be true. “Just hang in there, Lynne, and I’m here if you need me. You don’t have to go through this alone. And even if you and Tom divorce, you can always come back here to Lake Eden. Everyone here really likes you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot to me, Hannah. Maybe it’s time for me to do something different and stop being subsidized by Tom. L.A. is brutal, Hannah. There are a ton of good actresses, and it’s depressing to go on hundreds of auditions without getting a good part. I’ve done a few commercials, but holding a bottle of household cleaner and convincing people that it’s better than any other product isn’t what I want to do with my life.”
“What do you want to do with your life?” Hannah asked her.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t have to be an actress. I have fallback positions and I can always earn my own living in another way.” Lynne reached for one of the stuffed mushrooms. “Have one, Hannah.”
It was clear that Lynne didn’t want to talk about her problems any longer and Hannah reached for a mushroom. She popped it into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and smiled. “They’re really good!”
“They’re excellent,”