Tom Yum

Tom Yum Noodle Soup - a Thai style hot and sour soup with shrimp, tomatoes, and shiitake mushrooms.

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

I first found out about Rebekah's Family Food and Fun when I was assigned her blog previously. I knew I wanted to make this recipe when I saw it, but I didn't have enough time before I left for Savannah. Well, I finally got to give this recipe a try, and I'm certainly glad I did! This green bean casserole's definitely not like your usual green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup and onion strings on top. (Although onion strings on top of this green bean casserole might make for a tasty modification!) This green bean casserole's got a creamy cheesy filling with bits of bacon mixed in. The bell peppers also added a nice sweet flavor. Next time I make this cheesy green bean casserole, I'm thinking I'll try it with onion strings on top. Maybe they'll give me some motivation to finally make some onion strings while I'm at it! I finally made onion strings!

What's your favorite version of green bean casserole?

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

by CJ Huang

Cheesy green bean casserole baked with peppers and bacon along with a crispy bread crumb (or onion string) topping.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 55 minutes
Total time: 60 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

Materials:

Mass	Weight	Volume	Number	Material	Notes
			5 slices	bacon, crisped and crumbled	or bacon bits
	6 ounces		1	bell pepper, chopped
		2 tablespoons		butter
	4 ounces	1 cup		cheddar cheese, shredded
	2.25 pounds			green beans, trimmed and cut
		4 tablespoons		flour
		1 tablespoon		garlic, minced
		3 cups		milk	I used whole.
			1	onion, diced
		-3/4 cup	1 slice	bread, crumbs
		1/2 teaspoon		chili pepper powder
			1 batch	onion strings	optional

Methods:

	1. Gather all materials.
	2. Cook garlic and onion in a bit of oil until fragrant.
	3. In a separate pot, melt butter.
	4. Add in flour.-
	5. Mix into a paste.
	6. Add milk, and stir into a homogeneous mixture.
	7. Add bell peppers to onion and garlic mixture.
	8. Melt cheese into milk mixture.
	9. Add in a bit of chili pepper.
	10. Combine the bell pepper mixture and bacon into the milk mixture.
	11. Stir in green beans.
	12. Place into a 13 x 9 inch baking container.
	13. Top with bread crumbs (or even better - onion strings) and bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

Gazpacho

A cool and refreshing soup, perfect for summer! Try this tomato based gazpacho with cucumber, bell pepper, garlic, and onion.

Jambalaya

A quick and easy jambalaya with sausage, onion, celery, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Perfect served on top of rice.

Mediterranean Scones

Savory scones with chunks of feta cheese, olives, basil pesto, sun roasted tomatoes, and roasted red peppers - full of Mediterranean flavor.

Feta Topped Salmon

Feta cheese topped balsamic marinated salmon on a bed of roasted peppers and tomatoes.

Taco Stuffed Peppers

Ground beef, flavored with taco seasoning and onions, then stuffed into bell peppers for some Taco Stuffed Peppers.

Unstuffed Pepper Bake

I'm excited to introduce Sarah from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes as we finish off the first week of guest posts here at Morsels of Life. (Don't worry - I've got more tasty eats planned for next week and tomorrow's Five Friday Finds, so be sure to stop by again!) Sarah's got a lot of fantastical recipes over on her blog, and I know I look forward to Tasty Thursdays every week. Let's all give Sarah a warm welcome as she shares her Unstuffed Pepper Bake!

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Hi all! I’m Sarah from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes. I have been blogging as many recipes as I can test out in my kitchen for the last 2 1/2 years or so. My family thrives on variety, and I try to stay away from prepared foods and boxed meals.

All the deliciousness of a stuffed pepper without all the hassle - with turkey, instead of beef, for a healthier alternative.

Slow Cooker Creole Jambalaya

A spicy, smoky stew of peppery sausage and shrimp simmering in a tangy, zesty jambalaya.

Cilantro Corn Salsa

A simple, yet flavorful, corn salsa with red pepper, onion, and plenty of cilantro.

Summer Vegetables and Sausage Skillet

A vibrant combination of peppers, onions, zucchini, potatoes, and sausage provide layer upon layer of taste, textural, and visual appeal.

Sweet Pickled Peppers

Easily add flavor to sandwiches, pizza, omelets, pastas, or even salads with these super simple refrigerator pickled sweet peppers.

Skillet Chicken Nachos

A filling dip with creamy beans, sweet crisp vegetables, and delectable chicken all enveloped in velvety cheeses.

Brunswick Stew

Brunswick stew, a tomato based stew with vegetables and meat, is a traditional dish popular in the American South. It's also surrounded by controversy.

Korean Pancakes (Jeon 전)

Light, yet filling, Korean Pancakes (Jeon 전) provide a perfect platform from which sweet or savory ingredients can pop!

Chicken Quesadillas

Simple chicken quesadillas with onions and bell peppers and lots of melty cheese.

Parmesan Peppers

Easy and scrumptious roasted red peppers stuffed with melty Pepper Jack and topped with flavorful Parmesan cheese.

Thai Style Tofu with Peppers and Peanuts

Thai-style tofu with bell peppers and spinach, topped with chopped peanuts.

Mexican Black Beans

I've been trying to make faster dishes these days since I somehow still have not gotten everything back in order since returning from SE Asia! Plus, I didn't want to add lots of extra heat to the already sweltering apartment (and tiny kitchen). Although I used dried beans, you could further decrease the amount of time needed as well as the heat output if you used canned beans. But, using a pressure cooker can decrease both as well. Once you've got the beans done, the rest of this dish can be completed in less than 10 minutes! Just throw in all the remaining materials, stir around, cook for a bit, and you're good to go!

What are some of your favorite quick and easy sides?

Mexican Black Beans

by CJ Huang

Black beans, cooked in broth, with corn, peppers, garlic, and cilantro.

Materials:

Mass	Weight	Volume	Number	Material	Notes
		1.5 cups		dried black beans, cooked
		2 cups		corn, kernels
		1 cup		bell pepper, diced
		1 teaspoon		garlic, powder
		1 handful		cilantro, chopped
				stock/water

Methods:

1. Combine all materials (except cilantro) and bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.

Greek Style Bulgar Wheat

I'm continuing with a quick and easy recipe since I'm still trying to get my life back into some semblance of order after returning from Southeast Asia.

I had gotten a bag of bulgar wheat, and I thought I'd use it to make a variation of this recipe. I ended up chopping the bell peppers and mixing that with the bulgar since I didn't have enough to make stuffed peppers, but you could easily stuff the peppers instead. Bulgar wheat is a common ingredient in many Mediterranean cuisines, and it has a light, nutty flavor. It's also full of fiber, B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, manganese, and protein. Since bulgar has such a high nutritional value, it's a good substitute for rice or couscous, although the texture is more similar to couscous than rice. The bulgar wheat also soaks up all the juices and flavors so none of it goes to waste. In addition to all that, bulgar wheat does not need a long cooking time, making it perfect for those hot summer days when you don't want to add any extra heat from the kitchen! This dish is quick, simple, and doesn't require much time in front of the stove! It can also be eaten hot or cold.

Greek Style Bulgar Wheat

by CJ Huang

Greek inspired bulgar wheat with zucchini, tomatoes, and bell peppers - flavored with dill, garlic, onions, oregano, and a bit of lemon.

Materials:

Mass	Weight	Volume	Number	Material	Notes
		1 cup		bulgar wheat
			1	onion, chopped
			3 cloves	garlic, minced
			1	zucchini, grated
			1	tomatoes, chopped
		1 teaspoon		oregano
		1 tablespoon		lemon juice
		1 tablespoon		dill
			2	bell peppers, chopped
				water/stock
				oil

Methods:

1. Heat the oil in a pan and saute onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant, respectively.
2. Add the remaining materials, aside from dill, water/stock, and bulgar, and mix well.
3. Mix in bulgar and dill, adding water/stock if needed.