My son, he is really something else. He gets his mind set on something that he wants to eat and hurricane force winds couldn’t blow that idea out of his mind.
I wonder where he gets it?
So last week he mentioned to me every day that he wanted stuffed peppers. I explained to him that I really just made that when good peppers were in season. I live in Indiana. We are not in that season right now. We are in down coats, wool socks and pale white faces season.
No good peppers I told him. Pleeease Mommy he told me.
Those big brown eyes suckered me in. I told him I would think about it. So on Tuesday, after school, I was talking to a co-worker friend of mine named Cathy. Cathy has a real soft spot for Jacob. I think she would take him if I offered. Some days that thought has crossed my mind ????
She asked what I was making for dinner and without batting an eye Jacob piped up and said “She is making me stuffed peppers” with a sheepish grin. I looked him dead in the eye and said that dish would have to wait. Cathy with her perfect southern Texas drawl replied ” You make that baby some stuffed peppers!”.
I had no where to run. I was outnumbered.
SO on the way home I stopped for peppers. They were pathetic. After digging through about 27 of them I found 3 that were firm and large. Before we got home I had decided that I would make my usual filling but add a bit more tomato flavor. I added one 14oz. can of Red Gold Tomato Sauce to give the filling a bit of body. I also decided that instead of filling the peppers I would cut them into large chunks and toss them into the pot. Thus making stuffed pepper soup.
I didn’t tell him what I did and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the grin on his face when I brought his plate to the table. Looks like my improvisation cut the mustard. It was a great way to spend my last night at home before I headed off to BlissDom.
Link to my stuffed peppers: Stuffed Peppers OR Zucchini & Squash
My Families Favorite Stuffed Peppers/Squash
Vegetables you want to stuff: cleaned, hollowed out, etc.
1 small zucchini, shredded
2 C cooked brown rice or Quinoa
1 pound of lean cooked ground meat. I used ground sirloin
1 small onion, finely diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 TB dried basil
kosher salt and fresh pepper
1 small can of tomato paste
olive oil
**See note
Cook the meat until done and then add the onion and the garlic in a large skillet. Saute until soft. Add the zucchini and stir a few times to incorporate. Add the dried basil, tomato paste, rice, salt and pepper and combine all of the ingredients. Remove from heat.
**Stuff in your favorite stuff-able veggie OR add 1 can of tomato sauce and 3 chopped green peppers. Simmer on low until green peppers are slightly tender but not mushy.