Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ok so I started typing this epic blog post in the middle of watching The Bachelorette....and then it ended and I proceeded to delete everything I had previously typed.

Ummm what the eff?!

(Yes this post is a spoiler)

I had to delete my entire post because, well, it was all about Sean.  The too-good-to-be-true, too-hot-for-cable-television, all-American-perfect-male-specimen-SEAN.  What was she thinking letting him go???

First of all, lets state the obvious.  Arie is a total creepster.  Sure its cute they kiss all the time and he can't stop touching her, but why not try having an intelligent conversation??  And then when asked what he does on any given night, he goes on to say going out with his friends because he hates being home.  Duuuude, you're about to become a dad.  I think weekly night dinners around the table are destined in your immediate future...oh yeah and 5:00 AM wake up calls.

And then there is Jef.  Sweet, adorable Jef.  No I wasn't the biggest fan of him in the beginning, but he has really come to surprise me.  He's an old soul with great hair, all wrapped up in a skater boy's body.  Now that Sean's gone (RIP) I'm totally on board Team Jef and am now hoping he wins the whole thing.

In the meantime, go ahead and make Sean the next Bachelor.

Thanks in advance Chris Harrison. 

And speaking of beautiful men, yes tonight IS the night ladies.  I'm finally going to see the highly anticipated movie Magic Mike.  I'm headed there with about 10 of my girlfriends and we'll of course be downing delicious martinis beforehand.  C'mon, would you expect anything less??  One must be prepared for a gyrating Channing Tatum and shirtless Matthew McConaughey.

And on that note, I made some delicious quinoa stuffed bell peppers.

Nom, nom, nom.

 

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Servings: 8

Serving Size: 1/2 stuffed bell pepper

Calories: 215

Fat: 6.3 g

Carbs: 27.2 g

Fiber: 5.4 g

Protein: 9 g

Old Points: 4 pts

Points+: 5 pts

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Here are your ingredients:

Recipe adapted from Good Life Eats and Vegetarian Times 

1 medium onion, chopped

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 Tbsp ground cumin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed, drained

3/4 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup Trader Joes Pepper Jack cheese

4 large red bell peppers, halved lengthwise, ribs removed

Salt and pepper

Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.  Saute onion, celery and jalapeno for about 5 minutes, until soft, then add cumin and garlic and cook for an additional minute.  Stir in drained tomatoes (reserving liquid) and cook for 5 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Stir in black beans, quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender.  Stir in 1 cup of cheese and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and pour reserved liquid from tomatoes in the bottom of your baking dish.

Fill each halved bell pepper with 3/4 cup quinoa mixture and place in baking dish.  Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes.  Transfer stuffed bell peppers onto serving dish and drizzle pan juices over top.  Enjoy!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe

Feel free to make this dish completely clean by omitting the cheese and chopping up fresh tomatoes.  You'll save over 50 calories per serving and I guarantee this will still taste pretty amazing!