[et_pb_section admin_label=\u201dsection\u201d][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201dRow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_code admin_label=\u201dCode: Google Analytics\u201d global_module=\u201d25375\u2033 saved_tabs=\u201dall\u201d]<script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i[\u2018GoogleAnalyticsObject\u2019]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,\u2019script\u2019,\u2019https:\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/analytics.js\u2019,\u2019ga\u2019); ga(\u2018create\u2019, \u2018UA-80928733-1\u2019, \u2018auto\u2019); ga(\u2018send\u2019, \u2018pageview\u2019); [\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201drow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_text admin_label=\u201dText\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dleft\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d]<\/p>\n
Last week we found some great looking bell peppers on sale at the grocery store. \u00a0Normally I buy a couple to add to my lunch salads, but I put six into a bag. Then I thought.ooohhh. Stuffed bell peppers. I hadn\u2019t made them in years and it sounded good. If you\u2019ve been following me for the last couple of weeks, you\u2019ll know that I\u2019ve had a problem lately planning meals successfully\u2026or at all. Anyway, I didn\u2019t think much about it until the day I was expected to make them for dinner.<\/p>\n
I remembered the green ones my mother made a few times with a ground beef and rice stuffing topped with some type of tomato sauce mixture. That didn\u2019t sound very appealing, and my ground beef was frozen solid, and I don\u2019t really keep rice in the kitchen these days. So what to do\u2026what to do?<\/p>\n
What could I use to make stuffing? Then I remembered watching my mother make stuffing every year for Thanksgiving. Practically my favorite meal of the year full of carbohydrates and carbohydrates and even more carbohydrates. Oh, and some turkey. My mom\u2019s stuffing was the same every year, but she never used a recipe that I saw. She always chopped the same veggies, used the same chicken stock, and the same box of Mrs. Cubbison\u2019s dressing mix. So I took that general idea and pulled off a riff on her stuffing methodology.<\/p>\n
I gathered some veggies, used some tomato bouillon, and found quinoa to take the place of bread cubes. Added some cheese and baked them for about 30 minutes. I have to say, they came out very tasty. The larger peppers were a little under done on the bottoms, but other than that they got a thumbs up.<\/p>\n
My roommate asked if I\u2019d used a recipe, and I think she was a bit surprised when I said no. That I just kind of threw it together. She told me I should write it down. I\u2019ve never done that before, but thought I\u2019d give it a shot here, for you.<\/p>\n
So\u2026as a disclaimer, I don\u2019t have any nutritional information. I can\u2019t tell you how many calories each pepper is going to be, nor do I really want to spend time doing calculations. So, at best, it\u2019s an excellent recollection of how things transpired that evening. I\u2019ve written it down here for anyone who\u2019s interested\u00a0in giving it a try.<\/p>\n
If you do try it, please let me how they came out. Also, if you have suggestions to improve the recipe please share those too.<\/p>\n
See ya next time\u2026<\/p>\n
~~Annette~~<\/p>\n
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F .<\/p>\n
In 1 quart sauce pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. When melted, add quinoa and stir. You\u2019re trying to coat as much of the quinoa as possible. Stir constantly for 1 minute. Immediately add 2 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil. \u00a0Reduce heat to low and simmer quinoa for approximately 15 minutes. Set aside on the stove and leave lid on the pot. Don\u2019t peak\u2026it continues to cook and will become nice and soft. \u00a0NOTE:<\/strong> The quinoa can be cooked earlier in the day, or even the day before. \u00a0Let it come to room temperature after refrigerating.<\/p>\n Slice the tops off your bell peppers. Take off as little as possible. Remove seeds and any large ribs. Shake upside down to remove any remaining runaway seeds. Stand up the peppers\u00a0in baking dish with NO cover. Place in oven for 20 minutes.\u00a0NOTE: \u00a0<\/strong>You can spray your dish with a release, or even line it with foil to reduce cleanup later.<\/p>\n While the peppers are baking, chop\/mince all your vegetables, and put into a mixing bowl to hold. Heat saute\/fry pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and spread around the pan. Add all your chopped vegetables. \u00a0Add parsley flakes. Saute until softened and most of the liquid is evaporated. \u00a0Dissolve the bouillon cube in 1 cup of water and add mixture to saute pan with vegetable. Mix thoroughly and bring to a boil. Add cooked quinoa to pan and mix thoroughly. Let cook until there is no more standing liquid in the bottom of the pan. \u00a0Turn off burner. Add 1 cup shredded cheese and mix until combined. It should mostly melt. Just mix it well. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.<\/p>\n Remove baking dish from oven. With a large spoon, fill peppers with quinoa stuffing. You can round the stuffing on the top to get some extra in the peppers. Use the last of the cheese to top the stuffing. (This is where the foil lined dish comes in handy. Cleaning melted hard cheese off a baking dish can be a nightmare.) Return baking dish to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.<\/p>\n Serve immediately.<\/p>\n This was a main dish for us, but it can easily be part of a larger meal. It could accompany any of these.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav admin_label=\u201dPost Navigation\u201d in_same_term=\u201doff\u201d hide_prev=\u201doff\u201d hide_next=\u201doff\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d] [\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201dRow\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_text admin_label=\u201dText\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dcenter\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d]<\/p>\nSuggestions<\/h3>\n
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