Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I am starting to go through my cupboards to use up all the items that have been sitting there a while. Despite what people may think, even dry pantry items have an expiration date, especially if they are bulk items that are exposed to the air.

As I was doing this, I came upon a wonderful mason jar of quinoa and knew that it was exactly what I was in the mood for. This meal is fresh, fast and delicious! Not to mention, it is dairy and gluten free and the fact that it is 353 calories* a serving doesn't hurt either.

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
4 Large Green Peppers (about size of grapefruit or softball)
3TB EVOO
5 Cloves of Garlic
2 Carrots
2c Mushrooms (Cremini and/or Shitake)
1tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3TB Hoisen Sauce
1c Dried Quinoa
1 Jar of Spaghetti Sauce (I prefer Newman's Own)
4 slices of veggy cheese

Instead of using a dutch oven, my stock pot is oven safe.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Pot needs to be large enough to stand the green peppers next to one another and be completely submerged. 
3. Meanwhile cook quinoa by placing in a quart sauce pan with 1 1/2c of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Then prepare peppers by cutting the tops off (reserving) and removing the seeds from the inner core and discard. When the water comes to a boil, submerge the peppers under the water, cover and cook for five minutes.  Drain and set aside uncovered
5. Chop the remaining produce including green pepper tops, heat EVOO over medium heat and saute veggies until soft then add Worcestershire Sauce.
6. Add quinoa to veggies then add hoisen sauce and heat for 5 minutes. 
7. Turn up heat to high, add 2/3 jar of sauce to veggies and remove from heat when it just starts to boil.
8. Use a small amount of remaining sauce to coat the bottom of a dutch oven. Transfer green peppers and divide quinoa mixture among peppers then top with remaining sauce.
9. Cover the dutch oven back for 25 minutes. Remove lid, top each pepper with cheese and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes. 
10. Let peppers rest for five minutes and serve hot. Enjoy!

My lovely husband: "I was so sad when I was done eating because it was all gone."

 *Calorie count based on recipe information entered into MyFitnessPal.

Chocolate Chip-Apple-Raspberry Quick Bread for a Busy 2013

So, 2013 has already given me a run for my money. With trying to plan family celebrations and parties, our wedding and meetings at work, it is nor surprise that January is a half over. Though I did not make actual resolutions this year, I am taking strides to better myself... which is basically the same. Part of that is trying to return to a healthier life style and eating habits. We did really well last year but ended up returning to our bad habits when my husband was told that he did not have a gluten allergy.

However, after returning to our casual eating style, may of his problems returned, which was all the convincing I needed to go back. Not to mention, I also noticed that I felt "slower" when we eating crap laden foods. So, it is back to homemade foods with few ingredients and even fewer preservatives and I happy to say that this includes juicing, but at the end of the week I sometimes have a few produce items left behind that really should be used up in order to maximize their nutrient potential.

I took my family's banana bread recipe and threw together this fabulous quick bread. It is the perfect balance of decadence and healthy yumminess.

Chocolate Chip-Apple-Raspberry Quick Bread
2c Flour
3/4c Turbinado Sugar
1tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2tsp Baking Soda
1/2tsp Salt
2TB Coconut Oil
1 Egg or 1/2c Apple Sauce
3/4c Coconut Kefir
2tsp Orange Zest
2 Granny Smith Apples (peeled, cored and chopped)
1/2c Frozen Raspberries
1/2c Mini Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 9x13 loaf pans. 
2. Mix together dry ingredients and wet ingredients (coconut oil, egg/apple sauce, kefir and orange zest) separately.
3. Make a well in dry ingredient and mix in wet ingredients until just combined. 
4. Fold in apples and chocolate chips and then add raspberries until just combined. 
5. Divide the batter into two loaf pans and bake 50-60 minutes, until knife comes out clean when inserted in the center.
6. Enjoy warm or cooled

This bread is so moist and decadent that it can even be served as a dessert with a little ice cream.