Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers - Take Two

This is my second take on vegetarian stuffed peppers. The first can be found here. These were Mexican themed, so I served them topped with salsa. Turns out my three year old likes salsa, but not stuffed peppers. Ah well.


Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
6 poblano peppers, cut in half lengthwise
1 tblsp olive oil
1 small red onion, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
1 can black beans, drain only the very top of the liquid
1 batch cooked brown rice (mine was for 2-3 servings)
1 1/2 tblsp taco seasoning
1/2 tblsp cumin
salt and pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Place peppers in a glass casserole dish. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Brown onion. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add beans, brown rice, and seasonings. Stir to combine. When liquid from beans cooks off, add 1/4 cup water and cook until heated through. The mixture should be moist, but not wet. Remove from heat and stuff peppers. Top with cheese and cook in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and a little brown.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Fall Veggies

Since it officially got all cold and fall-like this weekend, some comfort food was required! But, since I had eaten a bunch of crappy food (too much pizza), I wanted to make sure some veggies got in there so that I didn't have to feel too guilty. 


Baked Mac and Cheese with Fall Veggies
1/2 box whole wheat elbow macaroni
4 tblsp butter, divided
2 tblsp AP flour
1 cup veggie broth
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 cup grated cheese blend (I used colby, cheddar, and provolone)
1 small head broccoli, blanched and chopped into bite size chunks
1 small head cheddar cauliflower, blanched and chopped into bite size chunks
1/2 butternut squash, roasted and pureed
1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
Cook macaroni in salted water a minute less than called for on the packaging. In the meantime, melt 2 tblsp butter in saucepan. Add flour and whisk to combine. Cook for a minute. Whisk in broth and milk. Cook over medium hear until sauce thickens. Whisk in mustard and salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Combine macaroni, cheese sauce, and veggies in a casserole dish. Melt remaining butter in microwave and toss with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over macaroni. Cook 20-30 minutes in 350 degree oven until topping is crunchy.

Honey Chicken

This is based on a Rachel Ray recipe, but I found it, as usual, to be too light on vegetables and too heavy on other ingredients. I served this over barley because that's what the kiddo wanted and when your three year old asks for barley, you get it to them!   

Honey Chicken

1 tblsp vegetable oil

1/2 package chicken breast, cut into bite size chunks

2 tblsp corn starch, divided
1 white onion, sliced

4 small/medium carrots, sliced

1 large handful green beans

1 tblsp diced fresh ginger

3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced

3 tblsp honey

crushed red pepper

1 cup chicken broth

salt and pepper
Heat vegetable oil in wok over high heat. Toss chicken with 1 tblsp cornstarch. Cook chicken over high heat until lightly browned. Add salt and pepper. Add onions and carrots. Cook for two minutes. Add green beans, ginger, and garlic. Cook for a minute until fragrant. Dissolve remaining cornstarch in broth. Add honey, red pepper to taste, and chicken broth. Cook until sauce is thickened and serve over starch of your choosing.