Mexican Stuffed Peppers

The days are longer, the weather is warmer and no one wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen this time of year. It must be summer. Even though I don't want to be in the kitchen for hours, we still need to eat, so my crock pot keeps a spot on the counter even through the summer. It's perfect for creating excellent dinners without heating up the kitchen or keeping me away from the summer fun. So I'm thrilled to have this recipe for stuffed peppers with a Mexican twist to cook right in the crock pot. They are delicious, filling and super easy to make. Mexican flavors are always a win in our house and these peppers definitely make us happy. Enchilada sauce, seasoned rice and diced tomatoes with green chiles and more get added to ground beef for a delicious filling to these tender pepper just bursting with flavor. This is one of those recipes that makes me so excited to be part of Secret Recipe Club!

Classic Stuffed Peppers

Sometimes comfort food is in order and for me, stuffed peppers are one of those comfort foods I love. They remind me of my mom, who made them fairly regularly growing up. And even though when I was little I wanted "stuffed peppers without the pepper" (aka, meatballs) which Mom was good enough to oblige this one menu request, I eventually grew to love the pepper part too. Now I make these and serve them up with lots of mashed potatoes and a salad for a hearty, comforting delicious dinner. I love the seasoning, the extra texture from the rice and frankly, the satisfying look of a pepper just overstuffed and overflowing with a delicious filling.

Korean Beef

I'm embarrassed that I've been absent for this long. I've been cooking, but the new job has taken some getting used to in terms of setting our routine (but it's great!) and of course my new little kitchen helper is still figuring out all the tools and how they work. But at 5 months old, he has a lot more to learn, not the least of which is don't put all the tools in your mouth. I've got a backlog of birthday baking to share with you, a few more tasty quick breads and some other goodies I'd like to get to you before this time next month. Because I while I super excited that today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day, I'm disappointed that the last time I posted something delicious was for last month's Secret Recipe Club. But we all hit these ruts and I'm thrilled with this recipe and the nudge to get back in gear with posting. We've actually had this a few times already because it's super easy to make during the week after work and daycare, between feeding the little guy and getting him ready for bed. Plus it tastes awesome. I love my crock pot Beef and Broccoli, but this stove top Korean Beef is equally delicious with a slight twist in the flavor, texture and presentation. I've never been to a Korean restaurant, so I can't vouch for authenticity. Authentic or not, it's still delicious and is definitely in our rotation. The first time I made this, I didn't have any broccoli, so I substituted green beans and it was equally good. thank goodness for Secret Recipe Club for helping me get back on track and find this awesome recipe.

Simple Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

While I spent some time in the last few weeks of my pregnancy preparing freezer meals so that Dave and I could eat well without having to cook every night, I also started looking for simple recipes Dave could throw together quickly. We're fans of meatloaf, but sometimes the recipes can get pretty extensive--or at least require more work or ingredients than we want to engage in with an infant to care for. Enter this recipe with only four (4!) ingredients for a really delicious and quick meatloaf. Seriously, I could not get over how tasty this meal was and in fact we've had it twice already. So what's the secret? Stuffing mix. It's used as both your binding ingredients (breadcrumbs) and your seasoning and the result is a perfect meatloaf.

Beef and Barley Soup

It's definitely turned to fall this week. The leaves started to turn, then the cool weather, then the rain. Which means we're in one of my favorite cooking seasons! Bring on the crock pots and soup pots and fill them to the bring with chilis, stews and soups for hearty, heart-warming and deliciously cozy suppers. And this soup is one of our favorites for this season. It's wholesome, super tasty and can really fill you up without feeling heavy. The fresh vegetables are perfect and I must tell you--this recipe is what made me understand why good soup taste the way it does. The secret is leeks. Regular onion is great (and also in this recipe) but leeks just bring a whole other element and really set this dish apart from other homemade beef soups. Dave and I have been enjoying this recipe for five years and I've just become accustomed to doubling it. And we still fight over the leftovers.

Coca-Cola Marinated Beef Tips

Beef is what's for dinner a lot around here. We just like it--a good steak, some beef tips, or a pot roast. All good things. And even better when I can take a break from the cooking and let Dave grill it to perfection outside. We usually come together and choose a tasty marinade then I let him doing the heavy lifting while preparing some simple sides. It works out pretty well, actually. And this marinade is sweet, but not overly so, with just a hint of spice and a lot of flavor. Perfect for beef, chicken or poultry, this is one simple way to add a tone of tastiness to an otherwise ho-hum piece of grilled meat. Plus, we don't usually drink "full octane" Coke (Coke Zero is usually around our fridge), so this was a great way to use up some leftovers from a party. Win-win!

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix

Here it is--a homemade seasoning mix that you can keep on hand for last minute dinners. No more store bought mixes--in a package or a can. And the result is a thick and delicious beefy sandwich with a slight kick. We had friends over one night and not sure I'd have enough food, I quickly added sloppy joes to the menu, to great success. Everyone loved them and Dave enjoyed the slight difference in flavor from my regular crock pot version. This seasoning mix stores easily in the cupboard for a quick weeknight meal, and you could make it with beef, turkey or chicken, probably even meatless crumbles. So I put together a jar and sent out for this month's Foodie Pen Pal.

BBQ Beef Chili

We love a good twist on chili--chicken enchilada, pizza, butternut squash, buffalo chicken, you name it. So of course this BBQ beef chili needed to be tested. And it is definitely approved. Onions, tomato and corn pair up with barbeque baked beans and seasonings for a hearty and flavorful chili. What I like about this chili is that the flavors are strong, but since it's barbeque they aren't the typical "hot" spice that it normally associated with chili. Just a nice, strong smoky flavor that always goes really well with beef. Plus the beer makes things that much richer. Top with cheese, serve with chips and dig in.

Guinness Irish Stew

Are you noticing a theme yet? There are alternatives to corned beef and cabbage if you'd like to make an Irish dinner in honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up. This is the good stuff I made to go with the brown bread I shared on Monday. Loaded with yummy beef, lots of veggies, barley and seasoning, plus a Guinness kicker for extra flavor, this is a wonderful meal. Oh, did I forget to say it was a crock pot meal? Because yes, it's as easy as dump, mix, turn on and eat. My favorite kind of meal. This stew is definitely hearty and will warm you up, so if like me you're still stuck underneath a polar ice cap (or have so much snow in your yard that it's now insulated itself and is giving off cold air of it's own causing you to wonder if you might see the grass by May) then this is the dish for you. I love everything about it. The Guinness is definitely there, but in a mild behind the scenes flavor kind of way.

Enchilada Meatballs

You know how much we love Mexican food here, and I loved the idea of a twist on traditional meatballs. These enchilada meatballs at made with a mix of beef and turkey, combined with cornbread crumbles, and flavored lightly with cilantro, onion, seasonings and lots of enchilada sauce. They come together quickly and are baked, so they are a bit healthier than a pan fried version. We enjoyed these with noodles, a little extra enchilada sauce and a sprinkling of cheese. Not too shabby for a quick weeknight dinner.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

So we started January with a deep freeze, then last week we had a January thaw, and this week we're expected to dip down to frigid temperatures again. Guess it must be time for soup! We really enjoy stuffed peppers, but they do require some planning ahead, so when I found this soup recipe comprised of all the yummy parts of stuffed peppers, but deconstructed and quick to come together, I had to give it a try. This soup is delicious, hearty and flavorful. In about 45 minutes I had a tasty soup with beef, rice and lots of veggies that I served with crusty bread for a perfect meal on a cold night. Leftovers are perfect, to the point that Dave and I may have clamored to beat each other to claim them.

Mini Meatloaf Cups

Homestyle comfort food, anyone? Meatloaf certainly qualifies as one of those delicious, comforting meals that tastes particularly good on a cold winter evening. I loaded this meatloaf with sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms, then portioned it out into individual servings by cooking it in muffin cups. The result is perfect meatloaf with lots of flavor that's easy to stock the freezer with for busy nights. Just package in portions and defrost what you need, when you need it, and you're good to go.

Cheeseburger Meatloaf

I love a twist on a recipe standard.  Like meatloaf. It can be dressed up in so many ways (like this one or even this one).  And this recipe is yet another way of proving, you don't need to make your grandmother's meatloaf (unless her recipe is fantastic, then definitely make it).  But if your standard meatloaf leaves you wanting more, try this variation to turn your meatloaf into a cheeseburger dinner, without the bun.  Ground beef is doctored up with ketchup, mustard, onion and burger season, then stuffed with cheese, only to have more cheese melted over top for a delicious dinner and a new way to make meatloaf.

Beef, Bean and Beer Chili

It's triple B chili where the B stands for flavor in the shape of beef, beans and beer!  Surprisingly I've never put beer in my chili and now I'm wondering how I missed out on that glorious addition.  This chili is hearty and filling, with lots of flavor and delicious chunks.  Thick, like a good chili should be, I served this topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, scallions and a side of beer bread.  The heat can be adjusted, but we liked the spicy chili powder and the addition of a diced jalapeno.  Dave was in love with this chili, calling it one of the best I've made.  Not too shabby considering I've got eight other chili recipes, some that I've been making for years.

Beef and Bean Chimichangas

It's no secret that we love Mexican food.  One of my favorite things about Mexican is that it's simple to make (easy for throwing together after work) and I generally have all the components in the fridge or pantry.  So these chimichangas, baked up with seasoned beef, beans, veggies and cheese, are so delicious and were easy to make.  As a weeknight meal, I came home, cooked the meat and veggies, then assembled them.  Once in the oven, I had some time to hang out and since the whole thing came together pretty quickly, we still ate at a reasonable hour (one of my requirements if I'm going to cook from scratch when I get home from work).

Grandma's Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Polish Holubki)

Growing up, Mom or Grandma made stuffed cabbage rolls on a regular enough basis that they became synonymous with family gatherings.  But as a child I didn't really like the cabbage so I'd beg Mom to make just the stuffed part, or ask at the dinner table if I could unwrap it and just eat the insides.  It wasn't until I was an adult and really enjoyed the whole stuffed cabbage that I realized I'd only wanted meatballs.  But now I think, why have just a meatball when you can wrap it in cabbage, cook it in tomato sauce and get something so deliciously amazing.  The cabbage is perfectly steamed and flavors the meat, which is tender and full of texture and seasoning.  Cooked low and slow in a simple tomato sauce bath, these stuffed cabbages are not only comfort food for me, but are a huge hit with everyone in my family.  Of course, this is the same family that instead of eating leftover turkey on black Friday, we do a whole huge meal of stuffed cabbages and perogies, so we might be a little biased.

Hearty Beef Stew

Winter just will not quit.  Supposedly we're getting some more snow today.  For a winter season that was slow to start, it's proved to hit New England with a vengeance in February and March.  I'm just hoping we don't get another April Fool's storm like we did a few years ago.  The moral of this story?  Even though it's technically spring, it's still the season for comfort food and this stew is exactly that.  I almost named this CSA Stew since it's chock full of beef, red and yellow potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and onions from a recent farm box.  And can we talk about how good the house smells while this cooks?   I put it on in the morning and when I came home from work, I couldn't get over how amazing and inviting the scents from the kitchen were as they wafted through the house.  Thick, perfectly seasoning, and probably the most delicious way to get your veggies, this stew will help you forget about the remaining foot of snow in your yard.  And warm you up from the frigid winds and cold night temperatures.  At least for a little while.

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Dave and I both like stuffed peppers.  I usually make them in the crock pot, stuffing each individual pepper with a tasty, flavorful filling.  But inevitably when we sit down to eat them, the first thing both of us does is to cut it up into a big pile so each bite includes a hearty scoop of filling and a big chunk of pepper.  Kind of defeats the purpose of stuffing each of those peppers.  Enter this casserole.  The peppers are already cut up for you and the whole thing cooks together, covered in a generous helping of melted cheese and purely delicious.  It's a new twist on comfort food both warm and hearty and perfectly seasoned.  The peppers soften perfectly, the beef and rice provide great texture and flavor, and the sauce brings it together to make a great casserole to feed a small crowd.

Baked Tacos

Holy. Crap.  We will never make tacos the "old"way again.  These were amazing.  The ground beef isn't just seasoned with taco mix, but refried beans and tomato sauce add a creamy texture.  Piled into shells and topped with cheese, these tacos then get baked up to perfection where the cheese gets melty and gooey and the shells soften just enough that they don't completely crack open on the first bite, letting all the taco fixin's inside plop out onto your plate.  Not only delicious, but these tacos would be perfect to make for a party taco bar--prefill the tacos with meat and cheese, then let guests gussy up their portable dish with taco sauce, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, onions, olives--whatever you fancy.

Whiskey BBQ Sliders

What's not to love about a burger, in miniature form no less, smothered in onions, jalapenos and BBQ sauce laced with booze?  These are some simple and delicious burgers.  I've actually made them twice in the last few weeks, they are that good (and it had nothing to do with the fact that I forgot to take pictures after the first time around).  I love that they are small, so you really get a nice sauce to burger ratio--I'm not sure they would be the same as a large burger.  There is a spicy heat to the sauce from the jalapenos, but the onions provide some sweetness and the whiskey is a nice background of smoky kick that indicates there is something special about these tiny sandwiches.  I love "stuff" on my burgers, but I ate these guys straight up, no frills.  That awesome.