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?