Oh, Stuff it!

Dude loves stuffed peppers.

I, on the other hand, do not.

I love the flavor of green peppers when I cook, but I can't eat them-just say it is not pretty.

I am now fumbling around, trying to figure out how to feed us all now that we are working different shifts and are rarely in the same place at the same time. I had some easy things planned for my lunches at work as we were being fed at work 3 days in a row because of the mandatory overtime we all had to put in. Dude suffered a little because I was so exhausted when I came home from my ten hours of training each day, the last thing I wanted to do was lift a frying pan.

The grocery store had some decent looking peppers on sale 2/$1, so I picked up 2, got some fresh ground sirloin and mixed in some staples from the pantry and turned out some pretty rocking peppers!

Stuffed Green Peppers

2 peppers, tops cut off with membranes and seeds removed

1/2 pound ground sirloin (or beef of your choice)

half a small onion, minced

teaspoon minced garlic (I used my jarred stuff)

1/3 cup premium white rice

1/3 cup water

1-14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes

handful of shredded cheese of your choice

Bring a saucepan (I used 3 quart) of water to a boil. You need enough to have the peppers submerged. Carefully lower the peppers into the boiling water, cover, and let boil 4 minutes. Turn off heat and remove peppers. Place upside down on a paper-towel lined plate to drain. In a skillet, brown the ground beef, onions and garlic. Stir in rice and stir it around for a minute or two, then add water and the can of roasted tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and let bubble away for about 5 minutes, just so all the flavors can meld. Stir in the cheese and turn off heat.

Place drained peppers in a pan that will allow them to stand upright. I used a loaf pan. Spoon filling into each pepper. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

He was a very happy boy. Especially since he didn't have to eat from the "Wheel of Death" for a third night in a row.

Grilling out

No, we didn't grill the cat, but here is an updated photo of Tofu.I think I'm in like. We had a simple dinner on Friday night as we were heading to the races at our local track. They had trucked in dirt for dirt track racing. Don't know that I'm a fan since I got pelted with big pieces of clay/dirt. I think the one left a rather large mark on my chest. Ouch!

I picked up some nice, thick bone in pork chops and then went out and picked some veggies from the garden. We marinaded the pork chops in my favorite Lawry's marinade and put those on the grill with some Idaho bakers that I had partially cooked in the microwave. I made a foil packet for the veggies and threw in some zucchini, peas, green beans and a couple different peppers. I drizzled some EVOO over them, sprinkled on some Tuscan herb mix and some Lemon Pepper and put that on the grill for about 8 minutes. We were out the door in no time.

Here is my new car! It is a 2005 Dodge Magnum, which is a station wagon, but not what your Momma use to drive! I am super excited. The Dude was concerned since I test drove one about 5 years ago and wanted one then. I haven't driven one since and he thought that the view might be a little hard to get used to after the Caddy-the windows are a lot shorter. I sat in it when he brought it home and loved it. I have to wait a little while to drive it as he has to fix the rear end. It was a repairable he found on-line so he got it cheap. It only has 29000 miles on it. As you can tell, very excited!

I have to go shave my hubby now-he bought a clipper to shave his own head-saving $8 over a haircut you know, and he can't get around his ears or the back of his neck. Things I don't do for the man I love........

I love a man in a cowboy hat

(Recipe will follow)



I don't know what it is. Several years ago the Dude went through a long hair stage (we don't talk about it much) but when he would wear a hat he looked like Alan Jackson. Our oldest once pointed to Alan singing on TV and went "Daddy!" Believe me honey, if that was Daddy we wouldn't be living in an old house with a leaky roof and crab grass. He usually wears ball caps, but we got an old time photo taken a few years ago and he wore a cowboy hat and chaps-yowza. Good thing we were in public. I enjoy country music, but not like I did when I was younger. I was pretty much raised on country-old school. Johnny Cash, Statler Bros, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton. As I got older, I would listen to it along with rock, pop, alternative. Nowadays, I like more of the rocking country when I listen. One of my oldest daughter's and my favorites is:


Jason Aldean. We got tickets to his show in two weeks. She was totally bummed that I wouldn't spring for the $100 tickets. I asked if she checked the venue's website and she said yes, but all they were showing was the $45 seats in the back. Um, okay, we can either not go, or take the cheap seats and go hear him. Plus, it is in a small theater at the casino-not a huge ampitheather! She decided that the 45 dollar tickets would be okay. Kids. The youngest will be pissed that she doesn't get to go, but she isn't that big of a fan and she isn't 18. I thought this would be fun for me and Hermit Crab to do before she leaves for college.




For our dinner last night at our friends house I made the Poppin' Bacon bread, 2 Corn Casserole and Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake. Big hits. The bread was gobbled up in no time. We ate it straight out of the oven while waiting for dinner. Corey made kabobs on the grill and red potatoes. My corn casserole is kind of famous, at least with their family. I bring it almost every time we go there for potluck or parties. Their youngest daughter LOVES it and their eldest came over after she had dinner at home since her sister told her we were coming over and I was bringing it-it is that good. I got the recipe from my Mom about 12 years ago, and I am not sure where she got it from. It reminds some people of scalloped corn, but I think it is better.





2 Corn Casserole


1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn
1 can (15 oz) creamed corn
1/2 can water
2 eggs
salt and pepper
1/2 box (8.5 oz) Jiffy brand corn muffin mix
1 small can French fried onions (Durkee)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese



Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). Lightly spray 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In casserole dish, beat the two eggs. Mix in both corns, 1/2 can of water, muffin mix, a pinch or two of salt and a couple grinds of pepper.



Sprinkle onions on top of corn mixture. I don't use whole can as it overwhelms my children.



Spoon sour cream over top of onions




then sprinkle with cheese to cover the dish.




Pop in oven for 40 minutes until cheese is nice and melty.





I left it in oven while we waited for the kabobs, so it got a little more brown than usual, but there was none left.




Here is Rebecca enjoying a spoonful. Mom is on right; Dad's beer is on left (smile-I told you beer would be involved).





Here is the scoop and my plate with all the foody goodness!



We played a lot of games of Eurche. The boys think they won more games; I don't think so.




We were suppose to get hit heavily with snow with accumulations around 5 to 8 inches. It started when we left, but when we woke up there was nothing on the ground. It must have stayed south of us. It looked like 'movie snow', all big flakes that almost seemed to be suspended in air.





Hard to get a good photo of snow at night when you have limited skills like me.



Don't forget the give-away. It ends Thursday~