Breakfast Stuffed Bell Peppers!

I know it's been forever and a day since I have updated this.. So I'll briefly fill in the anonymous world of das internets.. Moved back to the Bay Area in October, as I believe you know.. I was working at a Starbucks store in Lafayette briefly, and then they transferred me to Moraga. I will soon be transferring to the other Lafayette store. Three stores in less than a year! It's been pretty crazy, but it's been really good. And I like it.

Nancie and I before our race in Napa!

As for roller derby, it's taken a seat in the very back of my imaginary 15 passenger van. It's very sad, but between a scare of serious back problems(I say scare because it wasn't as bad as I thought it was initially, but I did still require chiropractic care), and needing to work as much as possible to pay all of my bills, I just can't seem to find the opportunity to skate as often as I'd like. But I have been doing more outdoor skating, and I sometimes find time on the weekends to skate with Bay Area Derby Girls' recreational league called The Reckless Rollers. I skated in a half marathon about a month ago with a customer I had met that I found out skates outdoors all the time. It was a blast, and I never thought I'd be able to finish it without stopping for 5 minutes to breathe. But I actually did decently well, which is encouraging for next year. I don't think I would've gone through with the race if Nancie hadn't gone with me. :) I do plan on getting back on the track sometime in the future, but for now, I just can't afford to. And it's heart breaking.

What I CAN seem to afford to do, somewhat, is make food. Which I LOVE to do, but I haven't really been able to much lately, but I keep coming up with all these delicious ideas and haven't really had the opportunity to make them.. WELL! I got up extra early this morning to help out one of my three roommates, and I decided on my way home at 6:30 in the morning, "Hmm.. Maybe I will make some breakfast!"

And I did. And it was brilliant! And completely my own creation. I didn't google anything, look anything up on Pinterest, or any of that nonsense. I used my brain. WHAT?? That's crazy talk, no one does that anymore. She must be crazy.. Or lying.. NOPE! No lies! Totally from my own melon. ^_^

So, at the request of my friends from utter jealousy after seeing my Facebook post about them, HERE IT IS! Everyone calm down. Breakfast is here. And so easy to change into something vegetarian, or vegan(but what is life without delicious mooing cheese??), or super meaty, or.. Well, you could turn it into dinner.. But this is BREAKFAST, people! Gluten free, heathy, delicious, extra cheesy BREAKFAST! It's so versatile I could squeal!

Alright. So before we start, you should know I'm kind of a loosy goosy cook.  I make up the recipe as I go. But for you, I guess I could write it down for you... Just remember, I throw whatever I happen to have in my fridge into the pan.. With the right seasoning(or enough seasoning, really), you can make anything simple taste awesome!

Here we go!

6 bell peppers (any color will do)

1 lb sausage

2 cups frozen hash browns

4 eggs

2 - 3 cups cheese

1/2 cups salsa

1 tablespoon minced onion

salt and pepper to taste

And any other favorite seasoning you might imagine.

 Let us begin, shall we?

Prepare yourselves!!

• Step 1: Prepare yourself for awesomeness!!! I prepared by putting on my batman apron(thank you, twin sister, for finding this gem at Target!), got some coffee(I work at Starbucks, this gives me the right to be an annoying coffee snob. Just a heads up), and turned on my Pandora station(current hit list, FYI). (Oh, PS- apparently there is going to be a lot of self commentary in parenthesis. I know this is the incorrect use for the sideways frowny/smiley mouth. Get over it. Mwahaha!)

DEATH to peppers! Mwhaha!

• Step 2: In the words of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, OFF WITH YOUR HEAD! No but seriously, you have to remove the stems from the bell peppers. I call it de-heading, beheading, or guillotining. Purely because it's fun to. If you're broke like I am, save AS MUCH of the bell pepper flesh AROUND THE STEM as you can! Chop that stuff up and throw it in the freezer! You could totally use it in a couple days in some radtastic chili or omelette. Anyway!! Chop the heads off those suckers and toss em(GENTLY!!) into some boiling water. You might want to preheat your oven sometime soon. Unless you're a really quick chef. Then you probably should have done that before you started cutting into things like Sweeny Todd.. Turn that puppy on at 400 degrees. Yeah. I like it hot. (Yeah. I went there.)

Mmm brown stuff with green stuff...

• Step 3: Remove your bell peppers from the water! Only leave em in for 5 minutes, unless you forget. Like I did. Then they get super squishy and start to lose their color.. :( But hey! If you're crazy like me and put them in cold water and got bored waiting for it to warm up, start cookin that sausage! I cooked it with a mild italian sausage links I get in a bulk package at Costco(love that place..), but I did have an awesome idea to use some of Aidelle's chicken apple sausage.. Unfortunately, it's not in my freezer.. FROWN! Anyway, once your meat is brown throw in those hash browns(more like hash whites right now, better brown that stuff!), let your peppers dry out a little, and spray down your casserole dish. Or oil it. Or butter it. Whatever you fancy. (No judgement for the cluttered counter, ok? I live with boys. That's the excuse I'm going with.)

Don't forget to add your eggs and stretch this deliciousness!

• Step 4: For the broke kids, the moms, the working humans of the world, or even the party throwin' people, you might want to consider cutting your bell peppers in half. WHY? Oh, well, it makes them fit perfectly into a 9x13 pan. That's why. Also, they fit really well in ziplock bags, can be eaten without a fork, and if you make a crap ton of filling like I usually do, can make this dish heartily serve 12 instead of serving only 6! WHAT? That's crazy.. And they FREEZE? Wahh? Actually, I don't know if they freeze.. I planned to throw the remaining ones in there but my monkey roommates ate everything before I got home today(oh boo-hoo! It was delicious!). Oh yeah, you might want to add those eggs and seasonings sometime soon. Almost done, I promise!

400! 20 minutes! NOM!

• Step 5: Put the stuff in your pan into a bowl. Stir in about a third of your cheese. I'm not certain how much I used.. Pretty sure it was around to handfuls in the filling and two on the tops.. I'm guessing thats about 2-3 cups.. *shrug* Use whatever you're comfortable using! Stir in that salsa! I have pace.. And it was bomb.. Feel free to taste test what you have so far. Just to make sure everything is they way you want it. Spoon some filling into each bell pepper halve, sprinkle the remainder of your portioned cheese over each one, and bust that tray into the oven. Uncovered(whoa, she's gutsy!) for about 20 minutes. This will melt all that cheesy goodness and make everything fabulous. Promise!

• Step 6: DING! Booooom! Done. Your food is ready and delicious! Look at that! Nom nom goodness!! Have a glass of orange juice. Eat a piece of jellied toast.

I'm telling you. It's bomb. And I don't lie about food. True story.

If you're vegetarian, try making this with mushrooms, spinach, maybe some quinoa.. Mmm.. Quinoa..... I know it's more of a lunch thing, but some health nuts eat the stuff cold with yogurt, so it cant be that terrible, right? Do vegetarians eat eggs? Or cheese? I know vegans have substitutes.. And vegetarians have meat flavored veggie tofu.. Throw some of that in there! Especially if there's cheese! OH THE CHEESE!!!! Nom!

Anyway, if you have ideas, or you end up making this, let me know! I want to hear about it! I heart food! ^_^