Halloween Stuffed Peppers

These cute stuffed peppers are a lot of fun to make and so simple. And they're perfect for getting your little helpers involved in the kitchen. If they enjoy designing their own Jack-o'-lanterns, they'll love making their own stuffed peppers. And if they're old enough to do the carving, these peppers really aren't much different than pumpkins. For us, it was a great way to use up the last bell peppers in the garden, but for some of you fall is the best time to buy peppers at the farmer's market when abundance drives the prices down. Wherever you get them, this will be the perfect, fun and festive Halloween dinner (without spaghetti brains and grape eyeballs).

Halloween Stuffed Peppers
2 large bell peppers (any color)
Half pound lean ground beef
1 Tablespoon onion, finely chopped
Half cup rice, cooked
Half teaspoon salt
Half teaspoon black pepper
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Half cup tomato sauce
Quarter cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Design your Jack-o'-lanterns' faces on paper and replicate with a sharp paring knife on the side of each pepper.

2. Cut a thin slice from the top of each pepper, around the stem, making a lid. Reserve. Remove the seeds and membranes with a knife and rinse.

3. Cook the peppers in enough boiling water to cover for 5 minutes. Remove from water and stand peppers upright in ungreased loaf pan.

4. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients: ground beef, onion, cooked rice, salt, black pepper, garlic, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese. Stuff peppers with mixture. Place stems on top of peppers.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until thermometer in meat reaches 170 degrees.

Happy Halloween!

The Great Platte River Road Archway

How is it that we wound up at The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument? I'll have to rewind a bit and get to that in my next post. But for now, all you need to know is that the three of us had driven all day and were more than glad to stop and sleep in Kearney, Nebraska for the night. The Microtel didn't fail us. But morning came early since we had crossed time zones from Eastern Standard Time to Central Time. In the early morning hours, we assessed our travel timeline. We would have all day to drive 402 miles, so we had plenty of time to putz around Kearney before heading out. And the archway museum on the Interstate-80 overpass intrigued us.

We were The Great Platte River Road Archway's first visitors of the morning! The parking lot was empty (insert crickets chirping). While we waited for 9:00 to come, we cleaned the car of our travel crumbs and took a few pictures in front of the museum. Then we bolted with curiosity of what we would find inside.

The Great Platte River Road Archway. Location: I-80, Kearney, NE.

Due to the graphic nature of this image, buffalo censorship was used.

Once inside, we were were met by lively re-enactors who greeted us warmly and started us out on our tour. We were fitted with headphones that would guide us through 150 years of transportation across America to the unknown... the Great West.

Sound like something that only history buffs would enjoy? Not so. Every few steps, we were greeted with life-sized dioramas and characters sharing personal stories of their role in the westward expansion. We followed pioneers lamenting their uncertain migration by covered wagon, and the first trains making their way across the vast prairie. And in the end, we found ourselves in the middle of the first transcontinental highway -- the Lincoln Highway -- just exactly where we stood.

An escalator took us to the top of the overpass (left of characters).

Derek helping a pioneer girl. Her family's covered wagon encountered many problems along the journey west. The mountains and valleys and rivers were treacherous.

The characters were so life-like. We especially liked this diner's waitress.

Another shot of us at the diner.

After finishing the tour, there was more to see and do outside. A little bit bit of art...

and replicas of a Pawnee earth lodge, and a sod house like those built in pioneers' early years.









The Great Platte River Road Archway made for and unexpectedly awesome stop and a great history lesson. We've been to many living history museums, and this one ranks right up there as one of our favorites.

For more information, visit their website at http://archway.org

Angry Birds Snacks

Last weekend, at age 36, I went to my first ever Super Bowl party. I may not have known who would be playing until just hours before the event, but I knew that I was going to be indulging in some serious party food with friends. And I didn't want to come empty-handed.

Now, I'm not known for my skill in the kitchen. In fact, I can honestly say I don't think anyone has ever asked me to make one of my creative kitchen confections a second time. Really. I can't imagine why I thought Pepsi and chicken belonged together in a casserole. Don't get me wrong. I can follow a recipe. But, there just aren't "Val Originals" that I could call a masterpiece...or even a success.

So, instead of trying to impress anyone at this party, I stuck with something I knew I could do. I melted chocolate and dipped away. You know, the almond bark for dipping pretzels at Christmas. I couldn't mess this up. Nothing creative. Chocolate-covered strawberries and peanut butter Ritz cracker sandwiches dipped in chocolate. Tasty and easy, and my friends will never know how fortunate they are that I didn't try to unleash my culinary creativity.

My contributions went over well if I do say so myself. But, let's not forget - they were dipped in chocolate. Why should I be surprised that I came home with a nearly empty plate?

What I hadn't counted on was having leftover almond bark to come back home to. It had hardened in the bowl after dipping all my goodies. It called to me from the counter all week long. I couldn't get rid of it...it was CHOCOLATE! It looked so good, but what could I do with it? Could it still be used? What tiny objects could I dip with this leftover goodness?

I checked the cabinets. Honey Maid Angry Birds Grahams! They were perfect.

I warmed up the hardened almond bark in the microwave.

- One minute.

- Stir.

- 30 more seconds.

- Stir.

- Dip birds.

- Lay flat on parchment paper.

So cute!

I just might get a Betty Crocker award for this one. Right?

If only I had thought of these for the Super Bowl party.