Mussels Dish Is Easy to Make and Features Zippy Sauce

Mussels are available the year round because of a large import market. Take advantage of the availability and good flavor and use mussels when entertaining.

Picante-Sauced Mussels is a tasty, simple-to-prepare dish featuring a perky sauce of sweet red pepper, green chile, onion, bacon and marjoram. The mussels are added toward the end of cooking time just until the shells open.

PICANTE-SAUCED MUSSELS

1/2 sweet red pepper, minced

1 green chile, minced

1 small onion, minced

3 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

1/2 teaspoon marjoram

1 tablespoon bacon fat

1/4 cup vermouth or chicken stock

1 cup half and half

1 1/2 pounds mussels or clams

Saute red pepper, chile, onion, bacon and marjoram in bacon fat until vegetables are tender. Stir in vermouth and half and half. Simmer 8 minutes. Add mussels and cook 4 minutes longer or until opened. Makes 6 appetizer servings.