Stuffed Bell Peppers !

So, in times of need (aka diet) comes ingenuity. This recipe originally was labeled "Orzo Stuffed Bell Peppers" but I've modified it and made it better (IMO).

The participants in this play:

Prestuffing:

Blessed by Buddha prior to the oven:

...And upon leaving the oven:

The recipe:

Stuffed Bell Peppers

1 (28-ounce) can Italian tomatoes or diced tomatoes
2 zucchini, grated
1 lb. Italian sausage
red pepper flakes, to taste
1/8 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for sprinkling
dash of Tom's Hot Sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1-2 cups chicken broth
6 sweet bell peppers (red, orange or yellow)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Pour the tomatoes into a large bowl and break apart using a pair of kitchen shears or your finger tips. Add the zucchini, mint, cheese, olive oil, garlic, Tom's, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

Meanwhile, brown the sausage with a sprinkling of red pepper flakes until done. Stir the sausage into the vegetable mix to combine.

Slice the tops off the peppers and remove all ribs and seeds. Cut a very thin slice from the base to help the peppers stand up.

Place the peppers in the baking dish surrounded with the chicken broth. Spoon the mixture into the peppers. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle the top of each pepper with cheese and continue baking until the cheese is golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, carefully transfer the stuffed pepper to a serving plate.

Best Meatloaf Evah

You heard that right, evah.

I didn't really foresee such a post. You know, about meatloaf but I made this last weekend and Roderic asked for it again this weekend. Really, it's that good.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

INGREDIENTS
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup ketchup
* Tom's Hot Sauce (to taste)
* 2 pounds lean ground beef
* 3/4 cup milk
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 shallot, chopped
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 cup finely crushed Ritz crumbs

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
2. Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar. I like to add Tom's HS to the ketchup and also to the meat mixture - how much is up to you.
3. In a mixing bowl, mix all remaining ingredients thoroughly and press into the loaf pan over ketchup.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices are clear.

One crazy thing I did this time was used cottage cheese to replace the milk (since we had no milk) and I'm hoping this is going to work. I'm all about guerrilla cooking.

I'll report back =)

Recipe Recap (finally !)

First of all, for the love of potatoes, can you all run out and try this recipe RIGHT NOW ? Please ? Because I can't be the only crazy girl in love with this simple, perfect recipe. I digress, let me move forward to some photographic evidence:

Before going into the oven:
Now, for some crazy reason, I only have "afters" of the potatoes ! The steaks were lovely, really -- just no evidence of them !



The other new, exciting item of interest that makes the Mr's heart go pitter patter.


Our very own hot dog cooker. The buns steam under the red and white stripped canopy as the dogs rotate on the warmer. I don't know if I should feel like the local 7-11 as we prepare for dinner or perhaps just like I'm spending another night at the circus. Either way, the dogs came out quite nicely and the buns we perfect. I also have to add that finding hot dogs with no trans fat and sodium below 400mg is next to impossible, sadly. This is a "special occasion" type of meal since eating this way too often will likely shorten one's life drastically. However, if you're feeling dangerous, you can run right over to Amazon and get your very own. You'll be the belle of the ball - the hero of the neighborhood.

On another note, I wanted to thank the powers that be for sending me some positive vibes today. While it was a challenging day, I had some great things happen that I really needed to have happen. So next time you forget:

The reason things always work out for the best, Kimberley, is because this is actually the highest of all spiritual laws.

Any apparent exceptions are simply evidence that work is still in progress, whether or not it can be seen.

Always,
The Universe

Sunday, lovely Sunday

The previously mentioned beautiful garageless house is currently occupied, so there shall be no spying or peeking through windows without written permission and a Guest badge. The Realtor says that this can be scheduled - just let her know. Oi. It gets nerve wracking but we're just looking ! Right ? We drove by not once, but t w i c e yesterday. Not stalking, just looking. The Mr. loves it in person too. What's not to love though, really. (minus the missing garage)

Yesterday was pretty low key. I have found a new amazing website to add to my list - The Pioneer Woman. I've been reading about this site for awhile from LCF. The recipes have been raved about over and over and I guess I just had a block because the name just didn't "appeal" to me (or something). It brought up images of camping or complex backwards ingredients so I just never went there. I can't remember the thought process, but something drew me to check it out and I'm so glad I did ! I have mainly focused on her recipes. I love the pictures and step by step commentary of how she creates each different item. So....I will be making her Crash Hot Potatoes (don't they look to-die-for ?) to accompany a Pan Fried Ribeye Steak for today's enjoyment. I purchased two succulent steaks yesterday, baby red potatoes and fresh rosemary (since I can't seem to keep one alive no matter how hard I try).

She really does a beautiful job on her website -- it's clean, pleasing to the eye and everything is elegant without being in-your-face. I would like my site to aspire to be similar. Blog/Cooking/Otherexcitingthings. Not the same, because that's just creepy, but similar in the sense of being a blog with more. I'm in the midst of domain name brainstorming, so we'll see where this takes me.

I'll report back on the cooking and maybe I'll even have some pictures.

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad

Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad
"A refreshing light pasta salad with a delicious Asian flair. Great for a summer cookout or picnic."

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta (used whole wheat rotini)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup light soy sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons white sugar (used less)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (used more.....fresh and minced)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast meat
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup chopped green onion

DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds, and cook stirring frequently until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain pasta, and rinse under cold water until cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
3. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and pepper. Shake well.
4. Pour sesame dressing over pasta, and toss to coat evenly. Gently mix in chicken, cilantro, and green onions.

Kimberley adds:

Shredded carrot -- about 1/3 cup

Snow peas -- about 1 cup

Fresh, minced garlic -- about 2 Tbsp to dressing