Monday, October 3, 2011

Craving Comfort...


The Seasons are Colliding ~


We had frost last night...
And the colors are changing quickly...



It is Autumn...

Time for Crisp, Vivid Days...

Chilly Nights...

And Comfort Food!
                                                                                                          
                   
I almost passed by these gorgeous peppers, but there was just enough chill in the air to stop me in my tracks as I was reminded of comforting Autumn days as a child when I'd arrive home from school and be greeted by the wonderful aroma 
filling the home as my mom's stuffed peppers
simmered on the stove top! 

It's another recipe which is not only fixed in my memory, but also rooted in my heart and when I think of comfort food, this recipe is at the top of my list!

~

Over the years, I've tweaked my mom's recipe just enough to make it my own, replacing the ground beef (or the mixture of beef & pork) she would use, with my version of lean ground turkey
and using lower sodium organic tomatoes. 
For the most part, my recipe is very close to hers.   

Here's my version:

1 lb. lean (or extra lean) ground turkey
3-4 cloves garlic (pressed or diced)
one small yellow onion, chopped
approx. 1/4 tsp. sea salt
approx. 1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup white rice w/ 1 cup water (cooked according to pkg. directions)
6 large (or 8 small) green peppers ( remove tops and seeds; rinse well)
1 (46 oz.) can tomato juice (I use low sodium)
2  (14 oz.) cans organic diced tomatoes

Steps:
First, prepare rice and set aside to cool
In large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, garlic, onion and rice, salt and pepper (mix with large wooden spoon or very clean hands) until combined.
Fill pepper halves with meat mixture

In a large pot, drizzle enough juice into bottom;
Place filled peppers into pot;
Add tomatoes and carefully pour tomato juice over the top so that all peppers are completely covered;
Place over medium high heat on stove top
until juice begins to bubble.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until meat is completely cooked through (approx 60 minutes)
** because I use turkey, I allow them to cook longer so that the meat is completely cooked and no pink remains. 
(if using a meat thermometer, it should read 180). 

I like to eat this heartwarming dish more like soup...ladling lots of juice over the top and soaking up the extra with fresh Italian or sourdough bread!




Mmmm ~~



The warmth of the steam on my face
 as I move closer to the bowl...
placing my soup spoon into the bubbling sauce...


      to savor...
                          the flavor...   
                                        of comfort!!!







What's your favorite comfort food?



17 comments:

Deborah said...

Oh Lorraine such beauty here.
I love autumn and its colours and comforts too!
Stuffed peppers..so yummy!
And I think my favourite comfort food at this time of year is hot chili and for a comfort drink..hot apple cider.
Have a great week my friend xo

Deborah xoxo

A multi-dimensional life said...

Thanks Deborah, I tried to hang onto summer, but it just didn't work...lol Autumn's colors are beautiful and I love chili too! ;)

Sarah-Jane - SiliconeMoulds.com said...

some of the simplest recipes are truly the best.

There is something very special about the changing of season and warm, comforting food of autumn and winter months

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Well we are still going between summer heat and cool temps of fall...so I haven't pulled out the cool weather recipes...oh I love soup, cheese soup!!
I will copy this off in hopes we start to have cool evenings,

Elisabeth said...

Hi Lorraine-Such beautiful fall scenery. I saw on the weather report how fast temperatures are cooling down up north, and here in S. Florida...no change whatsoever; sad, but true!

Your mom's tweaked recipe of the delicious and healthy stuffed peppers are one of my favorite comfort foods, as well, and I love how you made it with the ground turkey. It's calling my name, I really must make it.
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Mmmmmm....this dish reminds me of my parents. My dad loved my mom's stuffed peppers! Beautiful photos...we're having a picture perfect autumn week...wish we could bottle it.

Have a fabulous day, my friend!!!

Gina said...

I made stuffed peppers last night for my daughter, they are her favorite. Very similar to yours, I agree I'm ready for comfort food. I do enjoy the cooling weather though. Hope you are having a wonderful week.
-Gina-

A multi-dimensional life said...

I've been told that many of you are NOT able to leave comments even with Blogger signed-in. I've had the same problem at a few sites. I heard the solution is to use Google Chrome as your browser instead of Internet Explorer or Firefox. Hope that works.

Pamela said...

When my daughter died I ate 100s of baked potatoes. I have no idea why -- but it was my comfort food. Stuffed peppers is a favorite of our family. I'll have to do them soon! Your pictures are brilliant!

Toyin O. said...

Those green peppers look so good; you are such a good cook. My comfort food is Ice Cream:) Does that count?

A multi-dimensional life said...

Toyin ;) You bet, ice cream counts! I love it too!

myletterstoemily said...

oh, yum! my husband would love this recipe,
and i can't wait to try it. thank you for sharing
some of your comfort food.

mine is popcorn! unfortunately that is only
one food group.

mangiabella said...

these peppers certainly are beautiful, it truly could be the subject of a still life painting!!!!! Oh how I love stuffed bell peppers, and would delight in sharing them with you, especially since Anthony doesn't like them (how crazy is that??!!)

oh sweet Autumn, praying it wins your soul over in all it's glory bella!!!!

Deborah Ann said...

Those pictures are absolutely mouth watering! Well, the pictures of the food, not the autumn leaves.

I LOVE stuffed peppers, Spanish Rice, all that stuff. Your recipe looks healthy, so I'll just have to trust you that it tastes good. Kidding!

We just had a nice long week of temps in the 70's, so of course we just HAD to go camping. We had a private beach right behind our site, so guess who's looking warm and toasty? No, not the stuffed peppers...Me!

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I absolutely love stuffed peppers, and I don't eat beef so this recipe is perfect for me! The look so very very good! I have to say your images are beautiful, I have been away too long and for that I apologize.
Thank you for a perfect autumn meal!

Carol said...

Hello Lorraine,

Your blog is such a blessing ...

I am visiting all my favorite blogs today.

Make it a great day and continue to be a blessing. Carol Ann

Sierra said...

That looks like wonderful comfort food to me and I know - the seasons are certainly colliding! I can't believe that fall is here and winter time will be here before we know it.

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