Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I am going through a stuffed pepper stage! I'm not quite sure what it is about them, but 

they are easy to make, healthy and taste great! Tonight I made Quinoa  

stuffed peppers (thanks to the P90X2 nutrition guide). I have never had quinoa 

before so this was definitely an experiment. It is a Vegan meal (I am not vegan, but 

who says you have to have meat with every meal?!) and I had trouble finding 

a couple products, not to mention they are expensive!!! The best place to 

get most of the products would be at a health food store, which we do not have 

one close to where we live so I was limited to choices. 

INGREDIENTS:

• Large Bell Peppers (2)
• Quinoa (1/2 Cup cooked)
• Sea Salt and Pepper (to taste)
• Olive Oil (1 tsp) [I used peanut oil]
• Yellow Onion (1/2 of one onion and diced)
• Garlic Clove (1 and minced)
• Organic Tempeh (8oz crumbled)
• Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes (1/2 can = 7.5oz)
• Raw Pine Nuts (2 Tbsp)
• Brown Rice (1 Cup COOKED)
• Parsley (1 Tbsp freshly chopped)
• Basil (1 Tbsp freshly chopped)
• Raisins (1 Tbsp)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Halve peppers lengthwise, leave stems intact. Scoop out seeds and place (cut side up) in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for about 15 minutes.
3. While peppers are baking, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat and saute onion and garlic until soft
4. Add tempeh, tomatoes and pine nuts to skillet and saute about 5 minutes
5. Stir in rice, parsley, basil and raisins
6. Remove skillet from heat amd season with a little bit more salt and pepper
7. Spoon mixture into peppers on the baking pan
8. Bake for 15 minutes

NUTRITION INFO:

Serves 4

Serving size: 1/2 stuffed pepper

Calories: 247

Fat: 7g

Saturated Fat: 1g

Carbohydrate: 35g

Protein: 12g

Fiber: 8g

Sodium: 130mg

Cholersterol: 0mg

Fit Mamas Facebook Page

Awhile back I started a fitness page on Facebook called Fit Mamas. It originally started out for mommy's who loved to workout and a place they could all connect. I took a break from the page since it really was not getting much response. Now I have turned it into a motivational and informational fitness and health page for everyone! So head over to Fit Mamas on Facebook and check it out. Hoping to expand this and add a couple more admins.. so make sure to let me know if you would be interested (:

Click here to visit Fit Mamas

Slowcooker Pepper Steak

This was a success! So thought I would share. I made a few adjustments to the original recipe. This recipe makes 4 servings, serve with white rice.

 

 INGREDIENTS:

•  1lb Steak (I just bought the one already cut into strips)
• Garlic Powder (To Taste)
• Oil (I used peanut): 3 Tbs
• Chopped Onion: 1/2 Cup
• Bell Peppers: 2 Chopped
• Soy Sauce: 3 Tbs
• White Sugar: 1 Tsp
• Salt: 1 Tsp
• Red Pepper Flakes: 1 Tbs
• Minced Garlic: 2 Tbs

 DIRECTIONS:

1.  Cut the steak into thin strips (or you could just get the steak that is already cut up for stew) and season with the garlic powder
2. Stir together oil, soy sauce, white sugar and salt and put in slow cooker
3. Add the steak pieces to the slow cooker and turn it on LOW (3-4 hours) or HIGH (4-6 hours)
4. Chop up the onion and bell peppers then add to slow cooker
5. Add in red pepper flakes and minced garlic
6. Stir all the ingredients around making sure to get the steak covered completely

Orzo Stuffed Peppers

I found this recipe on Pinterest and just HAD to try it!

 I love orzo salad and thought this was a great way to make it. 

I tweaked the original recipe a little bit by adding sun dried tomatoes 

and taking out the baby arugula. It is very simple and tastes great. 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Dry Orzo (1 Cup)
• Baby Arugula (3 Cups)
• Crumbled Feta Cheese (1/4 Cup)
• Olive Oil (1 Tablespoon)
• Bell Peppers (4 small/ halved)
• Sun Dried Tomatoes (1/2 Cup)

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees
2. Cook orzo in salted water (according to directions)
3. Drain and return to pot
4. Add and stir arugula, feta, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
5. Peppers should be halved and seeded
6. Season peppers with salt and pepper
7. Fill peppers with orzo mix
8. Put filled peppers in baking dish (cover with foil)
9. Bake until peppers are tender (30-40 minutes)

NUTRITION:

(Per Serving:)

**One serving is 2 Pepper HALVES**

Calories: 267

Fat: 7.4g

Saturated Fat: 2.8g

Monounsaturated Fat: 3.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g

Protein: 10g

Carbohydrates: 41g

Fiber: 3g

Cholesterol: 13mg

Iron: 2mg

Sodium: 477mg

Calcium: 109mg

Getting Ready for the Week

Normally every Sunday I always sit down and get ready to plan my meals for the week (I know today is Tuesday, we were on vacation so I'm a bit behind). I have never been much of a cook, but since cleaning up my diet I am slowly trying new recipes out. I subscribed to a couple food magazines, signed up on recipe sites (my favorite currently being FOODILY), made an entire "food board" on Pinterest and also asked my friends and family about their favorite healthy recipes. I started a drawer in my kitchen as the designated "recipe" drawer. I have everything written down on little note cards and when it comes time to make my weekly menu I go through them and try some out. 

I have noticed I eat a lot of chicken.... and when i say a lot... I mean A LOT! I am not a big fan of red meat and I despise sea food (even though Salmon is an excellent source of protein). So I have tons of chicken recipes of all sorts. I used to be a really picky eater and did not incorporate enough fruits and vegetable in my day. As I have learned to cook, I have been adding more to my meals and getting enough of all the required amounts per day.

Anyways.... Today was the day before Pay Day so I sat down and made my weekly menu. I take a lot of time to carefully plan out each meal and keep it within my weekly calorie range. I also take in to account the workout I have each day, some days will require more "fuel" then others... so those are the days I want to incorporate more carbs whereas other days I will incorporate more protein and cut back on something else.

This weeks meals though I am really excited about. Everything on the menu this week is something I have never made before, so it will be an experiment. If it turns out well I will be posting the recipe (:

Wish me luck!