Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers - total time 35 minutes

My pepper plants are producing an endless supply of peppers (finally).  I typically make one of two things with sweet peppers... some sort of fajita tacos, quesadilla, casserole... or stuffed peppers.  You can change up both meals enough for it to feel like you aren't eating the same thing you had for dinner the night before. You won't hear a single complaint out of our house if tacos are in the menu for the third time this month, but you'll probably hear some sighing if I said "stuffed peppers". And I can understand, the filling to pepper ratio can be a little off for certain preferences.  For me it's the fact you have this beautiful dinner package and then the first thing you have to do is cut it up for three minutes to be able to eat it.  Why not just serve it all cut up to begin with?  Because it's not as cute that way!

Well here comes mini sweet bell peppers to the rescue!  It's like combining our not-so-favorite anymore standby with the fun of jalapeño poppers for something that works for dinner or an appetizer!  Also, we normally have done either quinoa or ground turkey for the filling.  Now I have completely converted to sausage. We get local sausage delivered by GreenBEAN Delivery and it is so good with bell peppers!  Of course we're going to add a little more vegetables for flavor and nutrients... and there you go... a dinner you can eat with your hands.  No more cutting up the cute presentation, just eat it!

Chicken Parm Paninis - total time 45 minutes

If you live in Ohio, you have probably heard of Melt Bar & Grilled.  Even if you don't live in Ohio, you may have heard about these huge gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches on shows like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  The first one opened in Columbus last winter (original is based in Cleveland) and I had a Parma, Italy which is chicken parmesan between two slices of Texas toast with a side of fries.  While it was really, really good... I kind of feel like I might have a heart attack afterward!  So I have been wanting to make a healthier version ever since.

So when Food Network teamed up with Sargento to do the Chopped at Home challenge, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to recreate this sandwich.  I buy a lot of local cheeses, but I also love Sargento and their artisanal cheese wedges.  I also like their commercials about how they are "real cheese people"... that cheese slices shouldn't come wrapped in plastic and I couldn't agree more!

Shredded cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich can get a little messy, but it's the best way to get all of those Italian flavors without tons and tons of cheese.  Some other big differences between my sandwich and Melt's is that the chicken just has a light breading instead of being fried and the sauce is for dipping (kind of like tomato soup) because I hate, hate, hate soggy bread (can't have condiments of any sort actually touching the bread, ew).  With the garlic butter, the bread ends up becoming garlic bread, so this really is a complete Italian meal without the pasta.  Buon Appetito!

Fajita Campfire Packets - total time 40 minutes

You know that perfect spot in a campfire to roast marshmallows?  Right by the red embers not too close to the flame.  It gets the marshmallow gooey and lightly toasted without catching them on fire.  Well, that same spot is the perfect place to cook your dinner too!  Just wrap the ingredients in heavy foil, spray with cooking spray, carefully put the foil packet in that perfect spot, and enjoy some perfectly cooked dinner in about 30 minutes.

I made this dinner while we were camping last weekend.  As soon as I got everything on the campfire to cook, the sky opened up and it started to pour.  We took cover in our Jeep and checked every single weather app on our phones... possible tornadoes.  Eek!  Thankfully the storm passed by pretty quickly.  There were a lot of puddles and the ground was muddy, but the campfire was still hanging in there (thanks to good tree cover)... but only by a little bit.  The rain made the whole fire those perfect red embers for cooking.  Surprisingly everything cooked just right and as the sun came out, we were chowing down on some delicious camp food.  :)

Loaded Shredded Chicken Nachos - total time 20 minutes

So before I started reading about nutrition and really learned how to cook, occasionally I would just make some nachos for dinner which involved some chips, lots of cheese, and a little bit of salsa.  It was quick, of course.  Only about one minute in the microwave.  But had no nutritional value what-so-ever.  

After reading a couple books about digestion and the ways what you eat can cause certain annoying symptoms, most of which you might blame genetics on like unclear skin, stuffy nose, or trouble concentrating... I realized that there was more to food than just tasting good.  Food is really about nourishing your body because it takes a lot just to keep our heart pumping, lungs inhaling, and brain thinking.  I started to make a conscious effort to make sure vegetables always had a spot on my plate for both lunch and dinner.  I started to cut back on meats and gluten.  I tried to limit how much dairy I ate, but I just couldn't give up cheese.  It is little steps that make the difference.  Going to the extreme will leave you hungry and feeling deprived.  Being too strict makes it nearly impossible to enjoy a meal out with a friend.  With most things, a happy medium is best.

It's been several years since those old microwaved nachos days, but sometimes you just want what you want.  I follow a couple bloggers that plan out their meals as well and one of them posted that they were making nachos for dinner one night.  I've been thinking about whether nachos are really dinner food ever since.  I decided to make my version of loaded nachos and it was quite filling and loaded with veggies (and cheese!).  This makes a great quick meal that you eat with your hands.  Perfect for a casual weekend dinner or to have with a couple drinks tailgating.  

Breakfast Enchiladas - total time 30 minutes

We used to have a game on trying to make every meal into a sandwich... you know, since sandwiches are so awesome.  I think breakfast might have been the beginning of this challenge when I was using pancakes and sandwich ends before McDonalds made it a thing.  We made spaghetti sandwiches between garlic toasts.  Of course we sandwiched our pizza.  Pretty much anything was fair game to be between two slices of bread.

Now I feel like it's tacos time to shine (or enchiladas in this case).   Fish and veggie tacos that may have been hard to find a few years ago are not available everywhere.  With Taco Bell's waffle taco, you really have to wonder what can't be turned into a taco (and when does it stop being a taco and start just being a way to eat with your hands and shove food in your mouth).

Enter breakfast enchilada!  While it's not technically a taco, it sorta is.  Ha.  It's also kind of like a mini breakfast burrito.  Perfect serving size for your brunch table or for making on a Sunday and heating up throughout the week.  I went with more of a fajita approach, but add potatoes, beans, salsa, etc if that's what floats your boat!

Not So Sloppy Joes - total time 40 minutes

Oh boy, I am such a messy eater.  My husband can always tell when I've been getting into something sweet because I somehow end up with chocolate on my face.  I really have no idea how it happens, but he always notices!  I swear it's happened when I haven't had anything with chocolate...

So if it happens with a bit of chocolate, you can imagine what happens with something like wings or... heaven help me... sloppy joes.  You don't even want to see the damage afterward.

As a result, I have steered clear of the sloppy joe sandwiches.  The occasional exception needs to be open-faced with fork and 10 napkins in hand.

But what if you could make it less messy?  Why not make it encompass all of the sloppiness?  My husband called these sloppy joe hot pockets... but I would like to think these are of higher quality than a microwaved, processed, pocket of heat.  It really is just sloppy joe made from scratch (although I just ran out of my own canned tomatoes) and just like you would eat a normal sloppy joe, just all wrapped up!  Perfect for lunches and days your short on napkins.  :)

Vegetarian Crunchwraps - total time 30 minutes

I was just having a conversation about the last time we ate at McDonald's (it's been a while).  I thought it was funny that I could recall the last time I ate at several fast food chains, all of which have been years ago, because they were all paired with awful belly aches or just bad luck.  Last time at McDonald's was actually in San Fran and was the only thing open for breakfast by the rental car place so we could leave for Yosemite.  They screwed up my breakfast sandwich order and I was too tired to realize it until it was too late and my stomach was already turning.  The last time I went to Burger King was after a long day waiting in lines and shopping at a sample sale and a car ran into my car while I was waiting in the drive thru line.  For KFC, it was after a canoe trip that was continuing into some backpacking in Zaleski.  It was either KFC, McDonalds, or Clif bars (which meant we would have less to eat while hiking).  We ate a quick lunch and off we went... it was 98 degrees, 100% humidity, and the trail started straight up some switch backs.  We got to the top and both of us looked pale as ghosts... the friend chicken was not sitting well...  And then lastly, I've never ate at White Castle, but my husband has once and told me the reason they call them sliders (TMI).

Ironically, with all of these fast food horror stories, surprisingly Taco Bell hasn't made our 'do not go there' list.  They also have a decent selection of vegetarian options and the Catina Bell menu is better than the average fast food.  Taco Bell just announced that they are testing some higher end fast-casual restaurants called U.S. Taco Co. in Florida, which will be interesting to see how they compete with Chipotle.  Any way, I've always thought Taco Bell had something with their crunch wrap idea... a mix of soft and crunchy.  There just had to be a healthier option than ladles of nacho cheese and sour cream with almost no veggies.  So here's my version...

Veggie Calzone - total time 35 minutes

Do you like ricotta?  There are a lot of people that don't.  Most of them substitute cottage cheese to replace ricotta... that's just not an even switch to me.  Maybe you either like ricotta or you like cottage cheese.  Maybe?

I've been making calzones for years.  My husband and I call them Alley Doughs after consuming more DP Dough calzones than we probably should have in college.  I never thought to put ricotta in them... ever.  But lately I have been limiting the amount of meat I eat (and currently that is no meat) so I've been choosing the veggie calzones at Sarefino's and Little Palace, both of which have ricotta and are molto delizioso (starting to work on my Italian for vacation :))!  I might be bias, because I love ricotta, but I think it makes calzones so much tastier!

This recipe is for one calzone, but one is easily enough for two people.  If you finish a whole calzone by yourself in one sitting, you get a free tshirt and your photo on a wall somewhere in cyberspace.  And a nap.  Because you'll be so full you won't want to do anything else. 

Vegetarian Fajita Tacos - total time 20 minutes

It's Taco Tuesday!  Okay, we don't have that much of a food routine at our house.  We eat a lot of tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas... so we probably have taco Tuesday more often than I realize.  Any way, tacos are perfect for Tuesday nights because they are fast and easy.  Everyone can build their own so everyone gets what they want.  These tacos have fajita veggies instead of chicken or beef, so they are great for Meatless Mondays as well!

Vegetarian Taco Salad - total time 20 minutes

Whenever I think about taco salads I remember this Bud Light radio spot from way long ago (apparently there was a TV commercial that went along with it).  It was about how taco salads have crazy amounts of calories, but because it is a salad, people think they are being healthy.  That commercial kind of stuck with me over the years and I don't think I've ever really had a taco salad since even Bud Light thinks it is an unhealthy option.  Well, here's one that is light on calories, full on flavor, and completely meatless!  It was so good wanted to go back for seconds despite being completely full.

Mini Taco Pies - total time 40 minutes

Another mini, individual serving meal... this may become one of our go-to, easy meals.  Taco/fajita night used to be a staple in our house... at least every other week.  But because of Pinterest, I have been trying new and different things most nights.  We haven't had a taco night at home in a while.  Well, it's back!  These little guys would be cute as an appetizer too.

1 pound ground turkey

3 torillas

1 cup tomatoes, chopped

1 cup bell peppers, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1.5 cup shredded cheese

chili powder

red pepper flakes

salt & pepper

dollops of sour cream

green onions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook ground turkey.  Add onion, tomato, pepper, chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper and cook for seven minutes.  Add in half the shredded cheese; melt and incoorporate. 

2.  Cut tortillas into smaller circles using a jar or container as a guide.  Spray muffin tin with oil and then tuck each tortilla into each cup.  Scoop meat/veggie mixture into each up.  Top with remaining cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes.

3.  Top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of green onions.  Eat with your hands!  They are tacos afterall!

Fajita Quesadillas - total time 35 minutes

I love quesadillas!  We love going to our local Mexican restaurant and fajita quesadillas are usually what we order.  There are enough veggies in there to easily omit the chicken to make it vegetarian and still full of flavor.  It is also easy to customize for each person's unique palate (spicy, extra cheesy, no tomato, etc).  But no matter how the quesadilla is customized... the trick to getting it to taste just right is the white queso cheese.  It just doesn't taste the same with any other cheese... believe me, I have tried because queso can be hard to find.

Here are some possible veggies to include in your quesadilla...

bell peppers

sauteed onions

corn

hot peppers

zucchini

tomatoes

spinach

mushrooms

Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole are great quesadilla toppers.  Yum!

Stuffed Peppers revisited with Quinoa - total time 40 minutes

If you haven't tried quinoa yet, it is definitely worth trying!  I was a little apprehensive at first and thought it was just another super food fad, but I actually love the flavor.  Plus, it is packed with nutrients; protein, fiber, calcium, etc.  Great for vegetarians!  An easy substitute for any recipe that has rice or couscous... and cooks just as easily.

I have posted a stuffed pepper recipe before, but wanted to try it again with quinoa.  I think I like it with quinoa better... not as messy as couscous and more flavorful than most rice.  Stuffed peppers are easy to alter for each eaters' tastes... like here, mine is packed with summer veggies from the garden and his is spicy with ground turkey.

1 cup quinoa

2 bell peppers, halved

1 onion, chopped

.25 cup cream cheese

4 slices of cheese

1 egg

salt & pepper

ground turkey, tomatoes, jalapenos, zucchini (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook quinoa according to package (usually rinse and simmer in 1.5 parts water to one part quinoa).  Cook any meat.

2.  Prepare casserole dish with halved peppers.  In a separate pan caramelize onions (I added my tomatoes too).  Combine chopped veggies, onions, quinoa, meat, cream cheese, egg, and spices/herb in a mixing bowl.  Pack mixture into each bell pepper.  Place cheese slice on top of each pepper.  Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

Easy Breezy Summer Pizza - total time 25 minutes

Easy personal sized pizzas faster than ordering out!  I always have a package of whole wheat naan in the fridge for a quick pizza night.  This time of year I can load them up with veggies from the garden.  They taste better than what you get from the delivery guy or the freezer... and you know all the ingredients.

whole wheat naan

tomato sauce

fresh mozzarella

italian herbs - basil, oregano, rosemary

plenty of fresh chopped veggies

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place pizza stone or cookie tray in oven to get hot (makes the naan crispy).

2.  Cut up all of your veggies.  After the pan is warm, put the naan on the pan, then sauce, veggies, mozzarella, and herbs.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melty.  Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup - total time 50 minutes

This soup oddly tastes like tomato parmesan despite not having tomatoes.


4 red bell peppers
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 yukon gold potato, chopped
.5 cup carrots, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
.5 cup dry white wine
.25 cup sour cream
.25 parmigiano, grated
1 tsp oregano
salt & pepper


1. Broil peppers in oven.  Turn peppers to ensure completely roasted.  Once roasted, remove from oven and cover to 'steam' the peppers (makes the skin easier to peel) for 10 minutes.
2. In a pot, saute onions in a little bit of olive oil.  Once onions are tender, add garlic and carrots, cook for 5 minutes.
3. Uncover peppers, peel skin, discard seeds, and chop.  Add peppers, potatoes, broth, and wine to pot.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer.  Simmer for about 20-25 minutes.  Add sour cream and parm, stir in.
4.  Place mixture in blender and serve.

Veggie Jambalaya - total time 30 minutes

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 small zucchinis, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

.75 cups rice

1 pint crushed tomatoes

1 cup vegetable broth

1 tbsp cajun seasoning

1 tbsp hot sauce

3 bay leaves

salt & pepper

1. Prepare rice according to package.  Saute onions in some olive oil in a pan for about five minutes.  Add garlic and zucchini, cook for three minutes.  Add crushed tomatoes and bay leaves.

2. Add rice and vegetable broth, simmer for ten minutes.  Add seasoning and hot sauce, continue simmering for five additional minutes.  Remove bay leaves and serve.

If you want to add meat to the dish, add some chopped sausage when you add the crushed tomatoes (or make the sausage separate like I did below).

Vegetarian Stuffed Pepper - total time 40 minutes

.25 cup chopped onion

1 pad of butter

.75 cup of cubed zucchini

.5 cup dry rice

.25 cup chopped tomato

.5 cup tomato sauce

.25 cup ricotta

.25 cup fresh mozzarella

salt & pepper

2 large bell peppers

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare rice according to package instructions.

2. Melt butter in pan, add onions and saute three minutes.  Add zucchini, saute for five minutes.  Add rice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce, cook three minutes.  Add cheeses, cook three more minutes.

3. Stuff peppers with filling, put in baking dish, bake for 20 minutes.