Stuffed Bell Peppers

As soon as our winter came, I found myself searching for recipes that involved the oven. I'm happy to stand in the kitchen making dinner with a preheated oven. I like to pretend I have a fireplace. This recipe for Southwestern Stuffed Peppers is tasty, but be sure and add some more spices of your choice. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 package (1.25 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 egg, beaten
2 cups cooked Spanish rice
4 green bell peppers
19 oz can diced tomatoes
16 oz jar salsa
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream

Directions:
Combine beef, onion, seasoning mix, and egg in a large bowl. Add cooked rice and mix well. Cut peppers in half lengthwise, remove seeds and membrane. Spread tomatoes on the bottom of an ovenproof 13x9 inch baking dish. The liquid from the tomatoes will reduce during cooking, so if you like sauce, then add 1 cup of water. Place peppers, cut side up, on top of the tomatoes. Spoon beef mixture into peppers. Top each pepper with salsa. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 45 minutes or until beef is cooked thoroughly and peppers are soft. Cover each pepper with cheese and return to oven until the cheese melts. Serve with sour cream and additional salsa.

E: 8
A: 9
T: 8
HH: 8 - we agreed this recipe needed more spices (cumin, salt, garlic)

Recipe adapted from food.com

Chili's Salsa

Back in high school, Chili's was the hangout spot for a few of my friends. I'm sure the waiter or waitress hated us. We would order chips and salsa, Shirley Temples, and stay for hours. When I ran across this recipe, I was so excited. I found it over at Six Sisters' Stuff.

Cumin is my favorite spice at the moment.

Ingredients:
2 cans (14.5 ounce each) whole tomatoes, drained (I bought crushed)
1 small (4 ounce) can diced jalapenos
1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic salt (I minced garlic)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice

This is my conversion chart I use EVERY time I'm in the kitchen. 

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients together in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. I bought crushed tomatoes, so I didn't blend anything. I diced the onions and jalapenos very finely too. Serve with tortilla chips. This stuff is dangerous if left out on the counter before dinner.

I made Round 2 of Chili's Salsa at Jordan & Jessica Wood's Rockin' New Year's Eve Party. This time, I used the whole tomatoes and garlic salt, and it tasted the exact same. Jordan said, "This tastes JUST like Chili's!" Mission accomplished.

E: 10
A: 9 - most of these items are staples in our house
T: 10
HH: 10 - extremely happy