Clean Eating Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers :)

I want to share with you this recipe that I found, and tried on Friday.  It was so delicious that I didn't even stop to take a picture of what it looked like when it was all said and done...  just shoveled it into my mouth so fast that I burned my tongue.  Oh well, at any rate, it was so yummy and FULL of clean, good for your body ingredients.  I hope that you will give it a try!

I love to use my crockpot, and if you don't use yours and it just sits and collects dust, wash it off and plug it in for this one.  We have soccer games on Friday nights so this was perfect!  I was able to prep it after I dropped the boys off at school then start the cook time around noon.  Nothing like having a CLEAN KITCHEN right before dinner!  Ahhhhhhh!  Joy!

So, you have your crock pot out, now go collect your ingredients.  Here is what you will need for this recipe:
~ 1 Sweet onion, diced
~ 2 cloves of garlic, minced
~ 1/4 c fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
~ 1 tsp dried oregano
~ 1 c dried quinoa, rinsed
~ 1/4 c whole wheat bread crumbs
~ 1/2 tsp black pepper
~ sea salt to taste
~ 1/2 c freshly grated parmesan cheese
~ 1 egg (I used 4 Grain Vegetarian brown eggs)
~ 2 tbsp tomato paste (Greenwise Organic)
~ 1 lb lean ground turkey
~ 6 bell peppers, tops sliced off and seeds and ribs cleaned out
~ 24 oz marinara sauce (Newman's Own Organic Marinara)
~ 1/2 c of water

 

Once you have all your ingredients ready to go, add the first 9 together in a large mixing bowl... should look something like this:

***Don't forget to rinse your quinoa***

To those first 9 ingredients, add 1/3 c of cheese, egg, tomato paste and ground turkey.... mix well!  I ended up ditching my mixing spoon and used my hands!  It is much more effective ;-)

Next, prep your peppers (say that three times fast!)

Now, take your turkey/quinoa mixture and stuff it into your peppers.  Make sure you don't leave any air trapped in the bottom, press the mixture in for a tight fit.  You should have just enough for your six beautiful peppers!  Now that you have stuffed your peppers.... STUFF them into your crock pot!  (It took me a few minutes to find the right pepper configuration, yes that is a problem..) and top with your organic, no sugar added marinara.  For this recipe I used Newman's Own Marinara.  Turn your crock pot onto low heat setting and let it cook~ It should take no longer than 6 hours.  Enjoy!  

Let me know what you think of the recipe, we all loved it!  There is something awesome about having your four year old look at his plate and say "oooo yay! Quinoa!" and your picky seven year old complain, but then end up eating his whole stuffed pepper (minus the pepper... ugh... just some vegetables I can't get him to eat!)

I'll be back again later this week with one of my random thought posts!  Have a GREAT Monday everyone!