Grilled Mushroom, Ham, and Basil Skewers

• From: Mushroom Council

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper

• 3 oz sliced smoked ham or Canadian bacon, cut in 16 (1-inch wide) strips

• 16 fresh basil or small spinach leaves

• 1 lb white button mushrooms

• 1 medium-sized red or green bell pepper, cut in 1-inch squares

Perfect for the grill, smoked ham adds the flame-grilled flavor to the button mushrooms.

Directions

• Preheat outdoor grill or broiler. In a small bowl combine oil, vinegar, salt and black pepper; set aside.
• On four 8-inch or eight 4-inch skewers alternately thread ham, basil, mushrooms and bell pepper, folding ham and basil to fit on skewers. Brush generously on all sides with oil and vinegar mixture. Grill or broil 4 to 5 inches from heat source until mushrooms are golden, turning occasionally, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Place skewers on a serving platter, brush with any remaining oil-vinegar mixture. Serve over steamed rice sprinkled with chopped parsley, if desired.