Stuffed Peppers

Stuffing peppers makes healthy, whole grains look so magnificent! You can use any kind of whole grain mixture for stuffing, here I've used quinoa fixed like a pilaf. Just follow the basic steps listed below for any mixture you choose for your stuffing.

Ingredients:

2 bell peppers
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup quinoa
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 tsp minced garlic
4 mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup garbanzo beans
2 Tbs cheddar cheese

Directions:

Step 1. Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds and veins. Cook peppers in a covered microwave safe dish for 4 to 5 minutes, until soft.
Step 2. While the peppers are cooking, prepare the filling. Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan. Add the quinoa, reduce the liquid to a simmer and cook until the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Step 3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet on the stovetop. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes, then add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. The vegetables will be soft, but will still maintain their shape. Add the garbanzo beans to the vegetable mixture.
Step 4. When the quinoa is cooked, add it to the vegetable mixture. Taste the quinoa veggie mixture and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.
Step 5. Stand the peppers in a microwave safe dish, and fill each pepper with half of the quinoa mixture. Top the peppers with cheese. Return to the microwave and cook for an additional minute until the cheese melts.

Serves 2.

Stealthy Cooking Tip: Here's an excellent way to eat peppers, healthy whole grains, and some additional vegetables. Stuffed vegetables always look so spectacular that they'll disappear fast!