Category Archives: Recipe

Vegan Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Lee | 12 Comments

Though I cook a lot, I usually follow a recipe. So on the rare occasion that I throw some stuff together and it tastes good, I have to admit, I get pretty proud of myself. Tonight was one of those nights, although this recipe was so simple that probably anyone could have thrown it together.

Vegan poblano stuffed peppers

Vegan Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Makes 4 Peppers

Ingredients:
4 poblano peppers, seeds removed
2/3 cup uncooked brown rice
6 oz. soy crumbles
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 cup vegan cheese (or just use regular)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cook the rice according to the directions.
3. While rice is cooking, put the poblanos an a glass dish with a little bit of water on the bottom. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for five minutes.
4. Coat a pan with cooking spray on medium heat. Cook soy crumbles until they are warm.
5. Add salsa, cumin and cheese once soy crumbles are cooked.
6. Stuff mixture into peppers and bake for 15 minutes on 350.

My peppers were on the smaller side so I had some extra filing which I just ate in a bowl.

Poblano stuffed peppers
Please forgive my excessive use of Instagram filters. I can’t seem to find my regular camera at the moment. Jason cleaned the office and I’m not sure where he put it.

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Posted in Recipe, Vegetarian

Tagged cooking, recipe

Halloween Boiled Peanuts in the Crockpot

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Lee | 12 Comments

Though I’ve lived in Atlanta for ten years, I’m not a huge fan of Southern food. But there is one thing that I’d never had before moving to the South and really like: boiled peanuts! My friends Joan and Sean had a Halloween party last night and I offered to bring some boiled peanuts, since they’re big fans too.

I remembered that Carol had made them before, so I emailed her and asked if she had a recipe. She told me that she just puts them in her crockpot overnight with lots of salt.

To start, you need raw peanuts. Preferably raw green peanuts, but we couldn’t find them. It actually took going to three grocery stores (a crappy Kroger, a nicer Kroger and finally Publix, where we had success.) to find raw peanuts.

Raw peanuts

From what I read, these dried raw peanuts would work fine, the cook time would just be longer than if we’d used the raw green ones. It did take a long time to cook, but the results were worth it. For those who haven’t had them, boiled peanuts sit in brine and they’re kind of mushy, but in a good way.

Boiled peanuts

Boiled peanuts closeup

Boiled Peanuts in the Crockpot

Ingredients:

1 pound dried raw peanuts
1/4-1/2 cup salt
3 tbsp cajun seasoning or more to taste
liberal dose of Texas Pete Hot Sauce

1. Wash the peanuts and put them in the crockpot and cover with water. The peanuts will float.
2. Mix salt, cajun seasoning and Texas Pete into the water.
3. Heat on low for 8 hours.
4. Turn heat up to high for 12 more hours.

I don’t think it’s possible to overcook these, but you do need to check on the water level from time to time and add more water if necessary. Happy Halloween!

Halloween costumes

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Posted in Cooking, Recipe

Tagged cooking

Forcibly Unplugged

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Lee | 16 Comments

I read a lot about the joys of unplugging. Being without the internet or television allows you to reconnect with things that are important in life, or so it’s been said. I’ve been without both since late Monday night (until this evening) and I’ve learned that what’s important in life is….

The internet and television!

I’m joking (sorta, maybe), but I do think there’s a distinct different between choosing to unplug say when you’re spending a weekend with loved ones and being forced to when a storm rips the cable line from your house and puts it in your neighbors yard.

Downed cable wire

Can I just add that I’m deathly afraid that a tree is going to fall on our house during one of these strong summer storms? I’m pretty sure it was a limb that knocked the wire down.

Of course, this would happen the week I decide not to make any sort of weekday plans whatsoever. Maybe it was a good thing though. Without the distraction of the Internet or cable (really the internet, I don’t watch much tv, but when the internet is not available that’s different.), I focused on cooking some nice meals and that I did. (I’m kind of on my own in the evenings; Jason is usually asleep.)

And after three days of not blogging, I have Writer’s Block. Figures. I can tell you this. Last night, I made Quinoa Broccoli Casserole.

Quinoa casserole

This was not what you’d call a quick meal. It took well over an hour to make. But it was tasty and besides, I didn’t have anything else to do. Even Jason, who typically doesn’t like quinoa (gasp!), thought it was really good.

Quinoa casserole2