Loaded Sweet Pepper Nachos

I feel like we totally pigged out tonight and went off the deep end. Did I really cook, serve, and eat nachos for supper? Yep. Sure did.

Sweet Pepper Nachos

Ingredients
1 bag small sweet peppers (I didn't use the whole bag, only 8-10 of the biggest ones)
1 lb lean ground beef (substitutions work well here - turkey, etc.)
1 can black beans
1 small can (6oz) tomato paste
taco seasoning or your favorite taco spices
Optional toppings:
diced tomato
sliced jalapeno
1 cup shredded cheese
sour cream
green onions
hot sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Make taco meat:
Brown meat on medium-high heat, season. Once brown, add rinsed can of black beans and remove from heat. Stir mixture. Add tomato paste and continue to stir. Depending on your meat choice, it may be thick. Add tablespoons of water until proper chili consistency.

Prepare peppers & assemble:
Cut tops off peppers, then slice lengthwise, creating boats. Layer boats in 9x13" baking dish, and spoon chili mixture into boats. Any remaining chili can be on top or in between peppers.

Bake at 375°F for approx. 30 minutes, or until peppers are fork tender.

Top with shredded cheese and let it rest while the cheese melts.

Add jalapenos and diced tomatoes to the dish, and add sour cream and green onions once served.

The yellow peppers look a lot like Fritos Scoops, but taste so much better.

A Colorful Kitchen for Christmas!

Looking forward to 2014 - it's sure to be filled with lots of seasoning, mixing, baking, and eating!

Like everyone else, we'll be looking to get leaner and meaner in the new year, and it'll be tough with all my new kitchen gadgets begging to be coated in sugary, buttery goodness.

I also got a new collection of delicious-smelling Yankee Candles for my office. I have the best sister.

Here's a look at them and the bright, new items and carousels in my kitchen:

"Magnificent" Homemade Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This is not a recipe for low-fat, no-fat, or lean potato soup. This is your grandma's thick, hearty, fattening, fill-you-up potato soup that doesn't hold punches. You've been warned.

Homemade Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

8 slices of bacon roughly chopped into small bits
3/4 cup of butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups milk (I use whole milk)
6 medium russet potatoes or 4 large baking potatoes, baked, peeled and cubed (I leave about 1/2 the skins on)
1/2 cup chopped green onions, additional for garnish
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, additional for garnish
1 cup sour cream
1 box/container of chicken broth (I think it's a quart?)

Directions:

In large stock pot on medium heat, brown bacon bits and reserve some for toppings. Leave remaining bacon bits and grease in the pot. Add the butter and stir until melted. Whisk in flour slowly, and continue to stir for smooth consistency. Once all flour is added, stir for an additional 2 minutes.

Begin adding milk one cup at a time, slowly. Whisk each cup into the flour and fat mixture as it's poured in. Cool or cold milk will cause the roux to thicken momentarily, so continue to whisk/stir to keep clumps out of the base.

When all milk is incorporated, add diced potatoes and green onions. At this point, I add about 2 cups of chicken broth as well to keep the soup from being too thick. Bring the soup to a boil, then simmer on low. Add the cup of cheese, cup of sour cream, and any additional chicken broth to reach desired consistency.

The soup is like lava, so I caution you to not serve it immediately, but let it sit for a moment.

Add sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, and green onions as a garnish. Salt and pepper as desired.

Enjoy!

The soup will thicken as it sits, but I just pour more chicken broth into the mix and give it a stir if needed.

I think croutons would be  great addition as well, but we enjoyed it all by its lonesome.

A Note About Faith & Religion Following a Jehovah's Witness Visit

I've been waiting to post this, because I didn't want to just fire off a couple sentences late at night on Facebook. I wanted to take a little more time and write a blog post. Here we go.

Last weekend, we got a knock on the door and put Bravo away before he could chew the door off its hinges. An older woman and a younger boy dressed in a suit stood out front holding brochures and a Bible. JWs. And I have Halloween decor out and about. Sweet.

I'm never rude, and I rarely turn away Witnesses from my door without talking to them a bit. I figure they have pretty rough mornings with people ignoring them, making rude comments, etc. There's usually a kid along for the ride, so I like to show them how caring, compassionate human beings act. It takes guts to go door to door and talk about your faith no matter who you are, so I will step outside, smile, and indulge them.

The situation and question they present is always something like "There are a lot of bad things going on right now in our world. What do you think causes those things, and why doesn't God help? Do you think God wants those bad things to happen?"

No matter the answer I give, the next step is for them to read a few verses from the Bible about these awful things coming to pass and Jehovah preparing us for the end times.

I always accept the recent Watchtower from them (the brochure they carry), but I also let them know FIRMLY, that we are of the Baptist faith, and we believe in the Bible's teachings, including Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and as the Holy Spirit - something JWs deny. Sometimes, I get a look up and down. Sometimes an eye roll. Other times, they're just fine with it and ask me about the military t-shirt I'm wearing or compliment me on a pretty German Shepherd dog.

It's the eye rolls, awful looks, and the aggressive ministry that sometimes follows even AFTER I've stated my strong faith that questions their tactics.

No matter your beliefs or mine, I'm willing to have a conversation about faith or non-faith with anyone. Anytime. My walk is different than yours, and if you can just be a good person, you're doing better than most. I really believe that. So I don't judge people for their religious beliefs, but I do get upset when you come to my house, I'm more than gracious to you, and you take advantage of that kindness by continuing to push after I've said my peace. There are enough people out there who think Christians are nutjobs who believe in things they can't see because a book written by men says so. In my opinion, we don't need religious people telling other religious people they're wrong for what they do.

So, whether you're a rattlesnake evangelist, Catholic, atheist, voodoo witch doctor, or otherwise, come to my door and I'll answer. Talk to me. Have a conversation. Let's teach each other. But don't look at me or treat me like I'm lesser than you or like I'm a lost soul because my faith is not the same as yours.

I don't think that's what sharing this earth is all about. :)

A Sweet Deal: Yankee Candle Small Tumblers Only $8 When You Buy 3

This should almost be a "Triple M Favorite Things" post. I LOVE candles. Specifically, I LOVE Yankee Candles. I received an email notification this morning that for the next 3 days, you can get their small tumblers (normally $15.99) for $8 when you buy 3 or more!

Use the promo code TUM13, or click the image above. My discount was automatically applied, but be sure it applies for you as well. I've got Farmers Market, Autumn Wreath, and Apple Cider in my cart now. I think I'm ready to make the leap into autumn-scented candles since it seems the cooler weather is here to stay. :)

Enjoy the savings! Let me know if you order - I want to know your scent choices!

Triple M Favorites: Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal

Just taking some time to point out another favorite of mine. Today, I'm thankful for Quaker Real Medleys. Once the lid is off, you add boiling water to the fill line, cover it and let it sit, then dig in! Unlike Quaker Instant Oatmeal, this isn't oat mush with weird, spongy fruit squares. Depending on the flavor you grab, you could have real almond slices, pistachios, apples, cherries, and multigrains.

Honesty time: I skip breakfast. OFTEN. I know I shouldn't, but I've always been that way. When I get hungry in the mornings, I am so happy when I have one of these cups to grab. I use the hot water dispenser on the office coffee maker, and I'm ready to go. The flavors are above-average for any food item you can make on-the-go. Sure, a homemade bowl of oatmeal with chopped nuts, honey, and berries would probably be that much better... but not everyone has the time, and Quaker Real Medleys work out great.

So... I encourage you to grab some of these guys off the cereal shelf next time you're at the grocery store. :)

And Now, A Collection of Pumpkin Recipe Memes

Because they're incredibly relevant right now.