Quinoa Hawaiian Pizza Stuffed Peppers

QUINOA HAWAIIAN PIZZA STUFFED PEPPERS

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PREP TIME

20 mins

COOK TIME

50 mins

TOTAL TIME

1 hour 10 mins

Serves: 4

 

INGREDIENTS

·                            4 large green bell peppers (or yellow or orange. My favorite!)

·                            1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled

·                            4 slices Canadian bacon, chopped

·                            1 cup marinara sauce

·                            ¼ cup whole milk mozzarella pearls

·                            1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

·                            ¼ cup chopped green onion

·                            ½ cup grated parmesan

INSTRUCTIONS

1.               Preheat oven to 350F

2.               Cut the top off of each pepper to make it’s ‘hat’. You can see I cut one of them too shallow, you should cut about ½ inch down to keep the stem in tact. Using a knife, cut out the middle of each pepper and discard with the seeds. Set the peppers and hats aside.

3.               In a large bowl, mix together quinoa, Canadian bacon, marinara sauce, mozzarella pearls, green onion, and grated parmesan.

4. Fill each pepper with the quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella and place the tops back on. Put the four peppers into a small square baking dish and cover with foil. Cook for 45 minutes covered, and then another 10 uncovered.

Enjoy!

Summer's Best Grilled Chicken Garden Salad

CREAMY HERB DRESSING

Courtesy of the 21 Day Fix by Autumn Calabrese

1 medium avocado, cut into chunks

1 ½ cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt

4 Tbsp. finely chopped herbs (like tarragon, parsley, mint, or cilantro)

3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 dash ground pepper

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1. Place avocado, yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

2. Continue blending avocado mixture, slowly adding oil until well blended.

3. Store in the refrigerator, tightly covered, until ready for use.

SALAD

4 cups shredded romaine lettuce 

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup chopped peeled cucumber 

1/2 cup finely chopped orange bell pepper 

1/2 cup thinly sliced radishes 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 small yellow squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

2-3 grilled or baked  chopped boneless skinless chicken breasts (depending on how many you are serving)

*Note* add any other favorites from your garden

1.       Mix all the salad ingredients and drizzle with the creamy herb dressing. 

Hawaiian Stuffed Burgers

Hawaiian Stuffed Burgers  Courtesy of Julie Lockhart lockhartgym.blogspot.com This item just screams summer! Although, if your burger is yelling at you, it's probably time to get out of the sun...

Ingredients:

2 eggs

½ cup fine dry bread crumbs or crushed tortilla chips
½ cup feta cheese
3/4 cup crushed pineapple drained

¾ cup reserved juice from the pineapple
1 lb. raw extra-lean ground beef (4% fat or less)
4 slices cooked bacon
1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves crushed garlic

2 Tab parsley
1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper

Directions: 
In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix cheese with crushed pineapple.

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix all other ingredients. Evenly divide mixture into four portions. 

Evenly divide one portion in half, and flatten each half into a thin patty. Place 1/4th of cheese mixture in the center of one patty. Top with the other patty, and squeeze edges to seal, forming one stuffed patty. Repeat to make 3 more stuffed patties.

Bring a grill pan (or large skillet) sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. Cook patties for 4 - 8 minutes per side, until cooked to your preference or cook on your outside BBQ.  Enjoy!  Serve with a mixed green salad.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS