Dinner Tonight: Stuffed Peppers

Weekends don't count, so technically I'm not behind yet.

Tonight is an oldie but a goody.

Stuffed Peppers

Yum. I'm hungry already!

Rachael Ray v. Mom

The other day I was watching Rachael Ray and she made this Tex-Mex BBQ Turkey Tamale Pie which I thought looked SO good. I spent the rest of the day wishing I had polenta on hand so that I could try this new recipe out. Well, somewhere during that day, I realized that I grew up eating a recipe that is almost identical. Ok, identical might be pushing it. But similar? Yes Very very similar. They are in the 'family.' So, here is the Mom version (aka easier, cheaper, and more likely that you have the ingredients on hand version) of Rachael's fancy skillet dinner.

Cornmeal Topped Sausage Pie

1 lb sausage
1 1/2 c green pepper, chopped
1 chopped onion
1 can navy beans (I used pinto!)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste (I was out of this as well, so I substituted tomato sauce and cut back on the water)
1/2 c water
1 t sugar

Growing Peppers 101

Since I really really want big beautiful peppers this fall (so that I can make this recipe), here is what I've been learning about growing peppers successfully...

Pepper(s):

• like sun
• need good drainage soil
• need deep and frequent irrigation
• should be spaced 18 inches apart from each other
• that flower during hot temperatures are more likely to abort fruit
• can be placed under hotcap or plastic tunnel to protect from cool weather

For more information, check out my source:
USU Extension fact sheet "Peppers in the Garden"

Because they lived...

In honor of my pepper plants surviving the crash, last night for dinner I made fajitas. Mmmm!

Fajitas
3 large green bell peppers, sliced into long strips
1 medium onion, also sliced into long strips
3 large chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into long strips
Fajita seasoning packet
Tortillas
Cheese, salsa, sour cream, ranch dressing, etc...

After cooking chicken, saute peppers and onions in a small amount of oil until tender. Return chicken to pan. Add contents of fajita packet* and a few tablespoons of water. Once chicken is reheated and seasoning is stirred throughout, you are ready to eat! Warm tortillas over stove or in microwave. Enjoy!

*I don't always use the entire packet. I usually start with half and go from there.

 Serving Size: Last night this fed 4 adults. However, there wasn't much left over. I was wishing I would have added one more chicken breast.

Can't wait for the end of the summer when I can use my own green peppers for this recipe!

First Recipe - Stuffed Green Peppers

During my numerous daydreams of beautiful gardens, I ponder the fresh produce I could incorporate into my dinner menus. Thus, included amid my gardening attempts will be a few recipes to wet the appetite (quite literally) to the advantages of having a produce garden.

Today's recipe is a classic from my mom...
Stuffed Green Peppers
1 lb ground beef, browned
1/3 c onion, chopped
tt salt and pepper
1 (16 oz) can tomatoes (crushes or petite diced)
1/2 c water
1/c c uncooked long grain white rice
1 t Worcestershire sauce

6 green peppers, tops cut off and seeds cleaned out
1 c cheese