ROASTED STUFFED PEPPERS

Good Morning to you,

"St Swithun's Day, if thou dost rain

For forty days it will remain

St Swithun's Day, if thou be fair

For forty days twill rain nae mair"

Guess what?  Today is St Swithun's Day!

So,

if it rains today, we can expect to have rain for the next forty days and if it is sunny, then we will have sunny weather for the next forty days!

Fingers crossed it will be 40 days of sunshine.

I AM THRILLED!

On Thursday, I had a wonderful surprise... I have my very first follower!  I am so excited! The name of this lovely lady is Karen and her blog is 

My Little Home and Garden.  Take a look at her beautiful blog, I know you will enjoy it as much as I do. Karen, to mark the fact that you are my very first follower,  I have a little surprise I would like to send to you..... so if you would  forward your address to me I will post your surprise  during the week. 

 ROASTED STUFFED PEPPERS

The recipe I have for you today is something that is enjoyed by the vegetarian members of our family..... but I have to say I cook this dish for supper a couple of times a month.  I ring the changes, sometimes with rice, sometimes with couscous, other times I include minced beef, but today I am going to fill the peppers with rice.

INGREDIENTS

3 whole peppers

1 large onion, finely chopped

Olive Oil

1 or 2 garlic cloves, grated or chopped finely

8 oz (250g)  tinned tomatoes chopped

or fresh tomatoes, skinned and chopped
plus 4 sun dried tomatoes

Handful of chopped coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chilli powder
(if you prefer less heat add 1/2 teaspoon of chilli powder)

3 oz (75g) cooked long-grained rice

Handful of toasted pine nuts


OPTIONAL

2 oz (50g) grated hard cheese
Squeeze of lemon

METHOD

Pre-heat oven 180c/350f/Gas Mark 4

Oil a dish large enough for 3 cut peppers

Cook the rice in your usual method.

When cooked set aside.

Place the pine nuts in a dry pan and brown,

keep an eye on them, because pine nuts

brown very quickly, keep turning until brown.

Set aside

If using fresh tomatoes, cut a cross  where the stem had been attached and place them in a bowl of boiling water.  Leave the tomatoes submerged for about a minute (longer if skins are tough).

This will make it very easy to remove the tomato skins.

Set aside

Cut each pepper in half

Remove the seeds

Set aside

Place olive oil in a pan and add the onions,

cook slowly until the onions are caramelised

(this is when the onions take on a rich brown colour, but this only happens if cooked slowly on a low heat for about 20 minutes)

Add the ground cumin and  chilli powder

add the chopped garlic

Cook for a further 2 minutes

Your kitchen will smell fabulous!

Add the chopped tomatoes
Cook for a further 5 minutes

Add the rice and make sure the rice is thoroughly incorporated with the rest of the ingredients.

Add the chopped coriander

The pine nuts look very brown due to the light, they were more of a golden brown.

Add pine nuts

Add grated cheese
and squeeze of lemon juice
Check for seasoning
if salt is needed, add now

The peppers are resting on cut outs used for biscuits. This is to stop
them rolling over

Place the rice mixture into the halved peppers.

Place the peppers into the baking dish

Pour hot water to cover the base of the dish

about 1/4 inch (the steam helps to cook the peppers).

Cover with tin foil and place in the pre-heated oven. 
or
If you would prefer place baking parchment in a bowl of water leave for 20 seconds then wring the water out and place the parchment over the peppers.
or

If you have a casserole dish large enough and it has a lid, use this.  If I am cooking 2 halved peppers, this is what I use, but I don't have a covered dish large enough for 3 halved peppers.

Remove the tin foil  and bake for a further

 15 minutes

.....and now you have a delicious supper for three. 

The cheese and lemon juice are optional, but I find just that little bit of grated cheese and lemon add a lovely depth of flavour.

NEXT WEEK


 I thought I would share with you my love of all things coffee.  So enjoy the rest of your weekend and I will catch up with you on Wednesday.  Until then,

Best Wishes

Daphne xxx