Make That Baby Some Soup!

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.