Southwest Stuffed Peppers

This dish is perfect for when you're looking for something to mix things up a bit. There are many ways to make stuffed peppers. I love southwest style because it's simple and delicious! 

Ingredients

6 large bell peppers (any color)

1 pound lean ground beef (or Turkey)

1 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

½ package of taco seasoning

1 cup salsa

2 cups cooked rice

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Rinse each pepper. Cut off the top and remove the seeds.

3. Brown the ground beef in large frying pan. Add onions and garlic and saute until beef is cooked. Drain the fat. Add the taco seasoning, salsa, rice, black beans, corn. Stir over medium- low heat until well blended.

4. Fill each pepper ¾ full of beef mixture.

5. Arrange the peppers upright in baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

6. Remove from oven and add cheese to each pepper. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Enjoy immediately.

Hint: If you have more filling left over you can use it for lunch the next day. I usually roll it up into a tortilla for a quick burrito for lunch.


Featured Beer

Tonight I'm drinking a Hop Bomber by Rivertown Brewing Company. I like to support my local breweries. Although, being from Cleveland, I firmly believe that nothing beats Great Lakes Brewing Company. This beer is an American Rye pale ale. It's a good pick if you're looking to try something new.

Chicken Alfredo Carbonara

This is something that I make on busy days. It's quick, it's easy and it's cheap! I usually make a lot so that I can eat it for lunch the next day.  I first made this because these were the only ingredients that I had that would allow me to make dinner without going to the store.

Ingredients

Oil

1lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, diced

I jar Alfredo sauce

1 cup of frozen peas

5-6 slices of bacon (sometimes I use Turkey bacon when I’m feeling healthy), cut into pieces

1 (16 oz) package Fettuccine pasta

Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. 

2. Add the peas when there is about 5 more minutes of cooking time. Drain.

3. Meanwhile, heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until it is no longer pink inside. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Stir in bacon and Alfredo sauce. Bring to a boil.

5. Combine with Fettuccine and peas

Featured Beverage

Right now I am enjoying a Brown Shugga' by Lagunitas Brewing Company. My brother introduced me to this one. It's an American strong ale. It's a bit hoppier than I remember and it is definitely a strong one as it has an ABV: 9.99%

Holiday Fudge Wreath

It's not the holidays without fudge! I like to glam up my fudge around the holidays by decorating it like a wreath. It's a really easy way to be festive. My boyfriend says "it's really neat" so I take that to mean he likes it.

Holiday Fudge Wreath

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) bag semisweet chocolate morsels
2 cups butterscotch morsels
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Holiday Sprinkles and/or candies

Instructions

Keep the condensed milk can!!

First, line a round cake pan with plastic wrap and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Cover the milk can with plastic wrap. Place in the center of the cake pan.
In a saucepan, melt chocolate and butterscotch morsels and sweetened condensed milk over low heat. Stir until melted.
Add vanilla.
Spoon fudge into caking pan making sure that the milk can remains in the middle.
Immediately decorate the wreath with the sprinkles and/or candies.
Chill in refrigerator.
Before serving, remove can from the center and move fudge to a decorative plate.

Snickerdoodles

I woke up today and for the first time in awhile I don’t have to go to work or class.Since it is the 21st of December the only logical thing to do with this time is to get started on Holiday baking. I’m starting with Snickerdoodles since that is what my boyfriend asked for. I haven’t made these in forever but I do have a good amount of holiday sprinkles that would be perfect for making these cookies even more festive.

I was on the phone with my Pops today and told him that I was starting a blog and what I was making today and he said "Well that's something to Snickerdoodle about". I couldn't agree more Pops.

Snickerdoodles with a Holiday Flare

Ingredients:

1Tbsp Granulated Sugar

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

Red and Green Sugar Sprinkles

1 Cup Butter, Softened

1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

2 3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Cream of Tartar

Directions:

Combine the 1 Tbsp sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar beating well. 

Add the eggs. Then stir in the vanilla.

Mix the flour, soda, salt, and cream of tartar in a separate mixing bowl and then gradually add to the creamed mixture. Mix until dough is formed.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar. 

Next roll each one into the red or green sprinkles.

Place these 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 400* for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Let cool for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

Featured Beverage

I should mention that while I cook I usually like to enjoy a good craft beer while I'm at it. This prevents snacking while I cook. Today I am trying New Belgium Brewing Company's Trippel. It's a deliciously smooth ale that is spiced with coriander. I recommend you give it a try.