Month: June 2024

Categories
Healthy Recipes Recipes Traeger Recipes

Easy Smoked Stuffed Peppers Recipe

stuffed peppers on Traeger grill
Smoke bake uncovered 10 min

This easy stuffed pepper recipe is a great meal to prepare ahead or bake right away. I usually make it when peppers are on sale, which is usually in the summer. I don’t like to heat up my house with the oven in the summer so, I’ve included directions for smoked stuffed peppers. These stuffed peppers also make great leftovers for packed lunches and this meal is freezable. Basically the prefect family meal!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission from qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.

Best pepper characteristics for making stuffed peppers

  • similar in shape and size
  • level bottom, so they stand up straight
  • tall and thin vs. short and fat – to fit in the baking dish better
  • 4 bumps on the bottom rather than 3, because the stand up better on their own
bell peppers
Choose peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom.

Stuffed Pepper Ingredients:

  • 8 bell peppers, any color
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 package of taco seasoning + water needed per package directions
  • 1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions (~ 2 cups cooked)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
  • 1 15.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 14.5 ounce can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 4 ounce can of diced green chilis
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • fresh cilantro for garnish

How to make stuffed peppers

Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove the stems, but keep the remaining flesh from the top. Remove any remaining seeds and as much pith as possible. Place the pepper bottoms in a Pyrex deep 9×13 inch baking dish and dice up the tops.

bell peppers ready to stuff

Prepare the rice according to package directions. Set aside.

Brown the ground beef, drain and add the taco seasoning according to package directions. Set aside.

taco meat

Sauté the onions and diced pepper tops until softened, add the garlic, and sauté for another minute.

sauteed onions and peppers

Add the tomatoes and green chilis, mix until well combined.

add tomatoes and chilis

Add the black beans and mix.

add black beans

Finally add the cooked rice and mix until well combined.

Mexican rice mixture

Remove from heat and mix in the taco meat.

Stuff this mixture into the pepper bottoms.

stuffed bell peppers

Top with shredded cheese. Pour about 3/4 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish. Just enough to cover the bottom of the dish.

Top with cheese and add water

Cover with aluminum foil.

covered stuffed peppers on Traeger grill
Smoke/bake covered 30 min
stuffed peppers on Traeger grill
Smoke bake uncovered 10 min

Preheat the Traeger or Oven to 400 degrees F. Bake/smoke covered for 30 min. Remove the foil and continue to bake/smoke for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Garnish with fresh cilantro.

stuffed pepper
sliced stuffed pepper

Are smoked stuffed peppers good re-heated?

Yes, stuffed peppers make a great leftover meal. They are perfect for packed lunches too. They fit perfectly into a mug Pop-in for easy reheating!

stuffed pepper packed for lunch

As ama Amazon Associate, I earn on qualified purchases.

More Great smoked meals:

Try this amazing smoked Shepherd’s Pie. This recipe includes both directions for baking and smoking the pie.

Try this amazing breakfast casserole on the Traeger. This recipe can also be baked in an oven.

Printable smoked stuffed peppers recipe:

Stuffed Peppers recipeDownload

Recipe By Kristin
Course: dinner Cusine: Difficulty:easy

Servings

8 minutes

Preparing Time

30 minutes

Cooking Time

40 minutes

Calories

kcal

INGREDIENTS

  1. 8 bell peppers, any color

  2. 1 pound ground beef

  3. 1 package of taco seasoning + water needed per package directions

  4. 1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions (~ 2 cups cooked)

  5. 1 medium onion, diced

  6. 2-3 garlic cloves, minced or grated

  7. 1 15.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

  8. 1 14.5 ounce can of fire roasted diced tomatoes

  9. 1 4 ounce can of diced green chilis

  10. 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  11. fresh cilantro for garnish

DIRECTION

  1. Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove the stems, but keep the remaining flesh from the top. Remove any remaining seeds and as much pith as possible. Place the pepper bottoms in a baking dish and dice up the tops.

  2. Prepare the rice according to package directions. Set aside.
  3. Brown the ground beef, drain and add the taco seasoning according to package directions. Set aside.
  4. Sauté the onions and diced pepper tops until softened, add the garlic, and sauté for another minute.<br>
  5. Add the tomatoes and green chilis, mix until well combined. Add the black beans and mix. Finally add the cooked rice and mix until well combined.
  6. Remove from heat and mix in the taco meat.<br>Stuff this mixture into the pepper bottoms. Top with shredded cheese.
  7. Pour about 3/4 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish. Just enough to cover the bottom of the dish.
  8. Cover with foil.
  9. Preheat the Traeger or Oven to 400 degrees F. Bake/smoke covered for 30 min. Remove the foil and continue to bake/smoke for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

NOTES

Categories
Recipes sourdough recipes

Sourdough Discard Mini Pita Bread – Great for Dipping

mini sourdough pita bread
Hummus and mini pitas

If you enjoy sourdough bread baking you must have tons of discard waiting to be used up. This sourdough discard mini pita bread recipe is a great way to use up that discard. Mini pita bread is great for dipping! It’s great paired with hummus or tzatziki sauce. Kids love them for making mini pita sandwiches. Perfect for bento boxes or other packed lunches.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.

Pita Bread Ingredients

  • 1 Cup room temperature sourdough starter discard
  • 1 Cup warm water ~ 110 degrees F
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

Mini Pita Bread Instructions

First combine the water, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Next add the sourdough starter. Finally, mix in the flours until well combined.

Form the dough into a ball. Knead it for 5 minutes. Add additional flour a couple tablespoons at a time if it is too sticky.

Cover the dough ball and allow it to rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size ~ 1 hour. I usually use my Ninja Foodi on the Proof setting set to 90 degrees for this step.

Pita dough before rising
Before rising
Pita dough after rising
After rising

Punch down the dough and cut it into 24 pieces. Roll each section into a ball, then use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a 3-4 inch round disk (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick).

Divided dough rolled into balls
Dough balls
balls rolled into disks
Dough disks

Heat up a non-stick pan to medium-high. Flip the disks into the pan. Cook until bubbles form ~ 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute or two.

Wait for bubbles
Flip and cook another 1-2 min.

Remove from heat and place the mini pitas on a cooling rack. If the pitas stick, you can add a very small amount of olive oil to the pan.

Pita broken in half
So fluffy and delicious!

What can you use mini pita bread for?

Mini Pita bread is great for dipping

Try serving the mini pita bread with hummus or tzatziki sauce for a tasty appetizer. Find a great homemade hummus recipe and other great appetizers here.

Mini pitas served with tzatziki sauce
Tzatziki and mini pitas
mini sourdough pita bread
Hummus and mini pitas

Make a mini pita sandwich

Mini pitas can be topped with sandwich toppings! You can eat them open faced or top with a second mini pita. Try a gyro sandwich on a mini pita.

Mini pita gyro sandwich

Printable Recipe for Sourdough Discard Mini Pita Bread

Sourdough Discard Mini Pita BreadDownload

Recipe By Kristin
Course: Bread Cusine: Difficulty:Easy

Servings

24 minutes

Preparing Time

minutes

Cooking Time

minutes

Calories

kcal

INGREDIENTS

  1. 1 Cup room temperature sourdough starter discard

  2. 1 Cup warm water ~ 110 degrees F

  3. 1 teaspoon sugar

  4. 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  5. 3 tablespoons olive oil

  6. 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

  7. 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  8. 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

DIRECTION

  1. First combine the water, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Next add the sourdough starter. Finally, mix in the flours until well combined.<br>

  2. Form the dough into a ball. Knead it for 5 minutes. Add additional flour a couple tablespoons at a time if it is too sticky.<br>Cover the dough ball and allow it to rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size ~ 1 hour.
  3. Punch down the dough and cut it into 24 pieces. Roll each section into a ball, then use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a 3-4 inch round disk (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick).
  4. Heat up a non-stick pan to medium-high. Flip the disks into the pan. Cook until bubbles form ~ 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute or two. Remove from heat and place the mini pitas on a cooling rack. If the pitas stick, you can add a very small amount of olive oil to the pan.

NOTES

As an Amazon associate, I earn on qualified purchases.

Categories
Entertaining at home

Tired of Marco Polo? – Try these really fun pool games

Are you ready for some Summer fun? Time to enjoy that pool! Are you tired of Marco polo? Here are some really fun toys, games and tips to make pool time even more fun!

Disclaimer: Always have a swimming buddy or parent supervision when playing in or around water. This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.

Sharks and Minnows

Equipment required: none

How to play: Choose a player to be the shark. All other players are minnows. The minnows start at one end of the pool. The minnows must swim to the other side of the pool, without being tagged by the shark, to win. The shark must close his or her eyes and attempt to catch the minnows as they swim across the pool. If a minnow is tagged (caught by the shark) they are out. The minnows can climb out of the pool and walk to the other end, but they too can be caught by the shark. If the shark yells “fish out of water” when a minnow is out of the water, that minnow is out.

Variations: For younger kids, you can choose to have the shark keep his/her eyes open. You can also choose caught minnows to become additional sharks – last minnow wins.

Mermaid Races

Fin Fun Mermaid Tail

Equipment needed: One mermaid tail per player.

How to play: This game is best for strong swimmers. Each player will don a mermaid tail and line up at one end of the pool. Then the players use the mermaid tails to propel them to the other end of the pool. First player to the other end wins.

Noodle Races

Big Joe Zzoodles
Big Joe Zzoodles

Equipment needed: One pool noodle per player. I suggest the Big Joe Pool Noodle or Zzoodle for kids. Our Big Joe Zzoodles have lasted 4 seasons already and they are still in good shape.

How to Play: Each player starts on one end of the pool with their noodle. Players must mount their noodle like a horse. They must keep the noodle between their legs while racing to the other side of the pool. First player to the other side of the pool wins!

The Category Game

Equipment needed: none

How to play: One player is “it.” All other players line up on deep end of the pool. The player who is “it” stands on the side of the deep end of the pool, with their back to the pool. The player who is “it” chooses a category. For example: Who is your favorite super hero? Each player chooses their favorite super hero, but keeps that information secret. The player who is “it”, starts listing super heroes. If they say Superman, and that was your hero, you must begin swimming to the other end of the pool. It’s difficult to swim quickly and quietly. If the player who is “it” hears someone swimming they can turn around and jump in to catch the other player before they reach the other end of the pool. The winner of this fun pool game is the first person to reach the other end of the pool without being caught.

Other Category Suggestions: Favorite color, favorite pizza topping, favorite ice cream flavor, favorite Taylor Swift song etc…

Underwater Football

pool torpedo toy

Equipment needed: A pool Torpedo

How to play: This fun pool game is best played while wearing goggles. Players go underwater and toss the torpedo back and forth underwater. The torpedo glides through the water up to 30 feet!

Air Ball

Equipment needed: A ball, I suggest a soft pool volleyball.

How to play: Two or more players toss the ball around without letting it touch the water. Count how many passes you can make before the ball hits the water. Try to improve your score each time you play.

Variations: To play with an odd number of people, throw the ball in a triangle, or one person can be the monkey in the middle. If the ball is dropped, the monkey takes the place of the person at fault.

Ball Tag in the Pool

Equipment needed: A soft splash ball or beach ball. If you choose a beach ball, you can get one for whatever you party theme is. For example choose a patriotic beach ball for an Independence Day party.

How to play: Ball tag is similar to regular tag, but you must tag the other players with the ball. This is why it is important to choose a soft ball. Choose a player to be “it”. They must tag another player with the ball. Players can choose to swim away or duck underwater to avoid being hit. If a player is hit, then they are “it”. The game keeps going!

Find the “invisible” water bottle game

invisible water bottle pool game

Equipment needed: An empty clear plastic 2 Liter bottle or water bottle

How to play: Remove the label, cap, and plastic ring from the empty clear plastic bottle. Fill the bottle with pool water and allow it to sink to the bottom of the pool. The bottle will be nearly “invisible” to swimmers in the pool. Try hiding the bottle before your friends arrive. Once everyone is in the water, ask them to find it. You can play this fun pool game play too since the bottle will move around, you will not know where it is either.

Note: If the pool water is still and you are looking down into the water from outside the pool, you can see the bottle. Make sure players are inside the pool before they start hunting for the bottle.

Dive for Treasure

Pool dive toys

Equipment needed: A variety of Dive Toys

How to play: Toss the dive toys into the pool. Wait for them to sink. All players jump in and collect dive toys. The player with the most dive toys recovered wins!

Toss and Clap Pool Game

Equipment needed: A ball, I suggest a soft pool volleyball.

How to play: All players stand in a circle in the shallow end. The first player tosses the ball straight up in the air claps once then catches the ball. If successful, they pass the ball to the player to their left. This player tosses the ball straight up in the air claps twice and catches the ball. If successful, they pass the ball to the player to their left. Continue passing and increasing the clap requirement until someone fails. That player is out. The next player starts over at one clap. The game continues until only one player remains. The winner!

Pool Lacrosse Game

pool lacrosse

Equipment needed: A pool lacrosse set

How to play: Practice you lacrosse passing and catching skills in the water with this really fun lacrosse set.

Around the world: pool version

Pool basketball hoop

Equipment needed: A pool basketball hoop and basket balls

How to play: Similar to the regular game of around the world. You choose 3 locations for players to shoot from. There is not a good way to mark the locations in a pool, instead use locations near the edge of the pool. Place a toy maker at each location. Dive sticks work well for this. Players line up and one by one they attempt to shoot a hoop from each location. If successful they move to the next location. If they fail, they go to the back of the line. The goal is to successfully make a basket form all three locations.

Rubber Ducky Race

Rubber ducky in a pool

Equipment needed: One rubber ducky per player. A random assortment is best so each player knows which duck is theirs. If they are all the same, use a sharpie to number them. This way there will be no fights.

How to play: All players and ducks start at one end of the pool. Players may not touch the ducks. They can only splash their duck to move it across the pool. Players may also choose to splash, but not touch other players ducks backwards. The winner is the first duck to reach the other end of the pool. Pure chaos and tons of fun!

Note: You can purchase rubber duckies to match the theme of your party. For example, graduation party rubber duckies.

Make your own obstacle course

Equipment needed: Various pool toys: Floats, Dive Toys, underwater rings, noodles and balls.

How to play: This is a really fun pool game that boosts creativity. Use the pool toys you have available to make your own obstacle course. For example: Start by jumping in the deep end and retrieve a dive toy from the bottom of the pool. Next swim up though a ring and kick to a noodle. Climb out of the ring and ride the noodle like a horse to the end of the pool. First player to the end wins!

Note: You can add plenty of other steps to your obstacle course. Another fun one is adding rings to swim though.

Remember adult supervision is recommended when children are playing in the water.

Other Fun Games

If you have a rainy day and are in need of an indoor game, check out this post for fun family games for all ages.

As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualified purchases.

Categories
Recipes sourdough recipes

Best Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust Recipe

Sourdough discard pizza crust

This is the best sourdough discard piazza crust recipe! You can also use it to make amazing breadsticks and even dessert pizza.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.

What tools do you need to make sourdough discard pizza crust?

Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust Ingredients

Sourdough discard pizza crust ingredients
Sourdough discard pizza crust ingredients
  • 2 1/2 Cups Pizza Flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast or active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Almost 3/4 cup warm water ~105 degrees (see instructions)
  • 1 cup sourdough discard from the refrigerator

Pizza Crust Instructions

Mix the dry ingredients, flour, yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl.

dry ingredients

Measure 3/4 cup of warm water. Remove 2 tablespoons of the water and set aside. Add the starter and the remaining water (almost 3/4 cup) to the four mixture.

Sourdough discard pizza crust ingredients before mixing

Mix until a dough ball forms.

Sourdough discard pizza crust dough ball

Continue to knead the dough ball in the bowl until all flour is absorbed. If the dough ball is dry, add some of the water you set aside. Add water until all of the flour is incorporated into the dough ball and it is not overly sticky. Knead for 5-7 minutes. Alternatively you can use a mixer with a dough hook.

Dough balls before rising
Dough balls before rising
dough balls after rising
dough balls after rising

Allow your dough to rest and rise until it doubles in size. (I made a double batch) This will take ~ 2-4 hours. I prefer to put my dough into my Ninja Foodi on the proof setting at 85 degrees for 4 hours. Any proofing box will work for this step, or if your home is already warm, you can just cover it with a clean dish towel and let it rise on the counter.

Once the dough has doubled in size remove it from the proofing box. For two 12-inch thin crust pizzas, divide the dough in half. Alternatively, cut the dough into 4 pieces for 6-inch personal pizzas.

Cutting the dough ball

Press each dough piece out on a piece of parchment paper.

Dough ready to be pressed out
Dough ready to be pressed out
dough pressed out-ready for toppings
dough pressed out-ready for toppings

Add your sauce and toppings.

Toppings added

Cut the parchment paper about 1 inch around your pizza.

Cut the parchment paper around the pizza

Baking Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

Preheat your oven with pizza stones inside to 450 degrees F.

Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza dough, with parchment paper underneath to the hot stones inside the oven.

using a pizza peel

Bake for 7 minutes. Use the pizza peel to remove the pizza. Transfer to a plate and slide the parchment paper off.

Can you bake the pizza on a Traeger?

Pizza on the Traeger
Pizza on the Traeger

Yes you can! Just preheat your Traeger to 450 degrees with the pizza stones inside. Use the pizza peel to transfer the pizzas with the parchment paper onto the stones. Bake/smoke for 7 minutes. Use the peel to remove the pizzas and transfer them to a plate. Remove the parchment paper, slice and enjoy!

Can you make breadsticks with this dough?

sourdough pizza dough breadsticks, before slicing

Yes you can! Just press out the dough onto a piece of parchment paper. Instead of adding pizza sauce and toppings, spread garlic butter, parmesan cheese and dried basil on the dough. Bake the same as the pizza directions.

sourdough discard breadsticks after slicing

How do you make dessert pizza?

dessert sourdough discard pizza

Simple, press the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper. Poke a few holes in the top of the dough with a fork. Bake the plain crust the same as the pizza instructions. Top with dessert toppings such as Nutella or cream cheese and fruit.

Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust Printable Recipe:

Sourdough Discard Pizza CrustDownload

Recipe By kristin
Course: Dinner Cusine:Italian Difficulty:Easy

Servings

4 minutes

Preparing Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

7 minutes

Calories

kcal

INGREDIENTS

  1. 2 1/2 Cups Pizza Flour

  2. 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast or active dry yeast

  3. 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

  4. Almost 3/4 cup warm water ~105 degrees (see instructions)

  5. 1 cup sourdough discard from the refrigerator

DIRECTION

  1. Mix the dry ingredients, flour, yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl. Measure 3/4 cup of warm water. Remove 2 tablespoons of the water and set aside. Add the starter and the remaining water (almost 3/4 cup) to the four mixture. Mix until a dough ball forms. Continue to knead the dough ball in the bowl until all flour is absorbed. If the dough ball is dry, add some of the water you set aside. Add water until all of the flour is incorporated into the dough ball and it is not overly sticky. Knead for 5-7 minutes. Alternatively you can use a mixer with a dough hook.

  2. Allow your dough to rest and rise until it doubles in size. This will take ~ 2-4 hours. I prefer to put my dough into my Ninja Foodi on the proof setting at 85 degrees for 4 hours. Any proofing box will work for this step, or if your home is already warm, you can just cover it with a clean dish towel and let it rise on the counter.
  3. Once the dough has doubled in size remove it from the proofing box. For two 12-inch thin crust pizzas, divide the dough in half. Alternatively, cut the dough into 4 pieces for 6-inch personal pizzas. Press each dough piece out on a piece of parchment paper. Add your sauce and toppings.
  4. Cut the parchment paper about 1 inch around your pizza.<br>Preheat your oven with pizza stones inside to 450 degrees F.<br>Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza dough, with parchment paper underneath to the hot stones inside the oven. Bake for 7 minutes. Use the pizza peel to remove the pizza. Transfer to a plate and slide the parchment paper off.

NOTES

As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualified purchases.

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