Dad's Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

 

Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers, any color
• Salt
• 5 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb of lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 cup of cooked rice
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned (if using can, drain of excess liquid first)
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 tsp of Worcestershire Sauce
• Dash of Tabasco sauce

Method

1 Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, cut top off peppers 1 inch from the stem end, and remove seeds. Add several generous pinches of salt to boiling water, then add peppers and boil, using a spoon to keep peppers completely submerged, until brilliant green (or red if red peppers) and their flesh slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Drain, set aside to cool.

2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 4 tbsp of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. Remove skillet from heat, add meat, rice, tomatoes, and oregano, and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix well. (You may find it easier to put the ingredients at this point into a large bowl and mix together with your hands.)

3 Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil inside the peppers. Arrange the cut side of the peppers up in a baking dish, then stuff peppers with filling. Combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl, then spoon over filling. Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish. Place in oven and bake for 40-50 minutes (or longer, depending on how big the peppers are that you are stuffing), until the internal temperature of the stuffed peppers is 150-160°F.
Yield: Serves 4-6.

http://bit.ly/ok57ls

Japanese Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken wings
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup all-purpose flour for coating
• 1 cup butter
• SAUCE
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cut wings in half, dip in egg and coat with flour.
3. Heat butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry wings until deep brown. Place in a shallow roasting pan.
4. In a small bowl combine soy sauce, water, sugar, vinegar, garlic powder and salt. Pour over wings.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, basting wings with sauce often.

http://bit.ly/pBm09I

Apple Bites

These toothsome treats are a fun and healthy break from Halloween sweets

 

Ingredients

• Apples

• Slivered almonds

Instructions

1. Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then press slivered almonds in place for teeth.

Tips:

If you're not going to serve them right away, baste the apples with orange juice to keep them from browning.



http://bit.ly/ovhDfU

Fruity Fun Skewers

Ingredients

• 5 large strawberries, halved
• 1/4 cantaloupe, cut into balls or cubes
• 2 bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 apple, cut into chunks
• 20 skewers

Directions

1. Thread the strawberries, cantaloupe, banana and apple pieces alternately onto skewers, placing at least 2 pieces of fruit on each skewer. Arrange the fruit skewers decoratively on a serving platter.

http://bit.ly/obFemk

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.
Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

http://bit.ly/pvP8yH

Marinated Veggie Kabobs

 1 medium eggplant, chopped 1"
    2 small zucchini, chopped 1"
    1 or 2 red or green bell peppers, chopped 1"
    8 medium button mushrooms, chopped 1"
    2-4 small-medium yellow onions, chopped 1"
    1/4 cup cider or balsamic vinegar
    1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
    1/2 teaspoon rosemary
    2 cloves garlic, chopped
    salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Place the vegetables into a large bowl. In another bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard, rosemary, garlic, and salt and pepper and whisk into a uniform liquid. 

2. Pour the liquid over the vegetables and, using your hands, turn the ingredients to ensure each piece is well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. 

3. To cook, preheat oven to broil and thread the vegetables onto metal skewers. Reserve the marinade to baste kabobs.

4. Place the skewers in a broiler pan and cook under the broiler for 10-15 minutes. Baste the cooking kabobs with the marinade periodically during the cooking. 

Serve over rice or couscous with the leftover marinade as a light sauce. This is great as leftovers, too. The flavors intensify.

Serves: 4-6, Preparation time: 30 min
http://bit.ly/pAZ0Sa

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water. Mix together until smooth.
3. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

http://bit.ly/pGZjRp

Vegetarian Tortilla Stew

Ingredients

• 1 (19 ounce) can green enchilada sauce
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cube vegetable bouillon
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup vegetarian chicken substitute, diced (optional)
• 4 (6 inch) corn tortillas, torn into strips
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a pot, mix the enchilada sauce and water. Dissolve the bouillon cube in the liquid, and season with garlic powder, chile powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Mix in the beans, tomatoes, and corn. Simmer until heated through. Mix in vegetarian chicken and tortillas, and cook until heated through. Stir in cilantro, and season with salt and pepper to serve.

 A great soup for a quick lunch or add a green salad and some corn bread and you have dinner. Serve with sour cream, shredded Cheddar, and sliced green onions

http://bit.ly/phzSI7

Broccoli w/ Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (1 pound) loaf processed cheese food, cubed
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2/3 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. In a stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion in butter until softened. Stir in broccoli, and cover with chicken broth. Simmer until broccoli is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Reduce heat, and stir in cheese cubes until melted. Mix in milk and garlic powder.
3. In a small bowl, stir cornstarch into water until dissolved. Stir into soup; cook, stirring frequently, until thick.

http://bit.ly/oDRcJd

BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 12 ounces corkscrew-shaped pasta
• 1/2 cup milk
• 12 ounces lean bacon
• 3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 4 tablespoons chopped chives or scallion greens
• 5 heads Bibb lettuce, quartered, or 5 cups chopped romaine hearts

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs. Drain and toss with the milk in a large bowl; set aside.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 tablespoons drippings from the pan. Add the tomatoes, thyme and garlic to the pan and toss until warmed through; season with salt and pepper. Crumble the bacon into bite-size pieces; set aside 1/4 cup for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and the tomato mixture with the pasta.
Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream and 3 tablespoons chives with the pasta until evenly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon chives. Serve at room temperature

http://bit.ly/oqQiIm

Easy Apple Cobbler

Apple Mixture:

5 c. peeled, sliced apples
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. butter, softened

Combine first 7 ingredients; mix gently. Spoon into a lightly greased 9-inch square baking pan; dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.

Batter:

1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten

Combine batter ingredients; mix well. Spoon over apple mixture in 9 equal portions (batter will spread during baking). Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Yield: 6 servings.

http://jcp.is/qVQMKG

Raspberry Fizzler

This is a great  drink for the summer fun!!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups raspberry juice
• 3 scoops raspberry sherbet
• 1/2 cup carbonated water

Directions

1. In a blender, combine raspberry juice, raspberry sherbet and carbonated water. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

http://bit.ly/r1m2hc

Strawberries Filled with Cream

I tried to make this extremely simple recipe about an hour ago and I must say...It was GGRREEAATT!!!

http://bit.ly/nECwdk

Brownie Pudding

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
• 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup good cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
• 1 tablespoon framboise liqueur, optional
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2-quart (9 by 12 by 2-inch) oval baking dish. Melt the 1/2 pound of butter and set aside to cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.

When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla seeds, framboise, if using, and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.

Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.

Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.

http://bit.ly/ZkTdT

Very simple fruit recipe

The "WOW" factor to this recipe is to combine some honey, lemon juice and ginger in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the fruit salad ( any fruit of your choice will do ) and ENJOY! or see the recipe for a fruit dressing!! YYUUMMM!!!!!

http://bit.ly/pcFxCd