I didn’t make any resolutions for 2013. I have that list of things I want to do before I’m 30 (9 months and counting. I need to step up my game and get crack-a-lacking!) and while some health related items are on there, I think that list is sufficient and as close to resolutions as I’ll get.

I used to be one of those “resolutioners” are the gym. You know, the one who signs up for a membership at big, corporate gym on January 1 and says to themselves, “I’m going to work out every single day, not eat and I’ll lose weight. Hooray!”

Not so much hooray. It would only last about a month. I have a gym membership now at a much smaller, locally-owned place, sure, but I haven’t been there since the holidays. I’ve been working out at home in our basement gym, attending Russa yoga classes downtown near my work, and trying to change things up to keep the workouts interesting. I am definitely one of those people who gets bored very easily. If I change it up, it actually makes working out tolerable and fun ;)

I know it’s not easy to get your butt to the gym. One of my friends once told me, “The hardest part is lacing up your shoes.” and once you do that, you’re set. How I feel about working out, especially at a gym now, is a complete 180 from before.

I hated going to the gym back then, and quickly realized that I had signed up for something I wasn’t 100% committed to doing. I wanted to lose the weight, but wasn’t prepared to do anything that comes with wanting that to happen. I wasn’t prepared to up the intensity of my workouts, do both cardio and strength training to get a full body workout, eat healthier, cut out junk, etc. So like a lot of people, I stopped going and then bitched and moaned that they were ripping me off.

A lot of you have read my journey to wanting to be healthy. It wasn’t easy but I’m finally in a place I can appreciate. Do I have bad days? Yes. Do I have great days? Yes. Do I sometimes get too obsessed about caloric intake, lack of protein, fat and carbs consumed and calories burned? Absolutely. BUT! I don’t stop. I work out. I cut out the junk. And I definitely eat better and as a result, feel better. I also know results won’t happen overnight. It took me a LONG time to figure that one out ;)

One way of keeping healthy is one of my favorite things to do: making new recipes that are healthier forms or vegetarian/vegan forms of a classic recipe.

So now onto the food and real purpose of this post. Stuffed peppers are a classic recipe in my opinion. We have made them before, but we kind of made them blindly and didn’t really measure out ingredients, or think about what kinds of healthy ingredients we could put into them.

I lightened up this newer recipe and it ended up being completely vegan. And delicious.

Stuffed Peppers with Curry-Spiced Quinoa

 

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Prep time

25 mins

Cook time

35 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

A healthy twist on a classic recipe using quinoa, meatless crumbles and spices! This can easily be made into a meat dish or just vegetarian with the addition of cheese.

Author: Aparna B.

Recipe type: Main Dish, Entree

Cuisine: vegetarian, vegan, main dish

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ¾ cup cooked quinoa
• 4 whole medium-sized red bell peppers, halved lengthwise
• Non-stick spray
• ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1½ cups vegan meatless crumbles (I used Boca brand)
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup frozen corn kernels, warmed or thawed
• ¾ cup diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons vegan worchestershire sauce (I use Wizards brand found at Whole Foods)
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 dashes Franks red hot sauce (or Tobasco if you prefer)
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Parlsey (optional garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa according to instructions on package (I cooked mine the night before) and set aside
2. Preheat oven to 350°
3. Fill a large pot with water and let it come to a boil
4. Stand the bell peppers up and cut down the middle, lengthwise so they are halved. Take out the seeds and membranes. Arrange all 8 halves in a 9 x 13 baking dish
5. Once the water is boiling add the bell pepper halves (4 at a time) into the water and blanch for 3-5 minutes. Remove, drain the water out and arrange back in the dish. Set aside.
6. In a large skillet, spray the non-stick spray and let it heat over medium heat.
7. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
8. Next add the meatless crumbles and let them warm through in the pan.
9. Add the water and stir. Let the whole thing cook away for 3-4 minutes.
10. Add the tomatoes and corn, followed by the garlic, Worcestershire sauce and all the spices.
11. Lastly, add the cooked quinoa and stir to combine.
12. If the mixture gets too dried out, you can add a little more water.
13. When everything is well mixed, give it a taste and adjust your spices and add salt and pepper accordingly (if needed).
14. Remove from heat and distribute evenly among the halved bell pepper boats
15. Bake the dish at 350°F for 20 minutes then heat under the broiler for 2 minutes or until the tops are slightly browned and crisped.

3.1.09

The best thing about this dish is that it’s under 300 calories per bell pepper. You really can’t beat that! So if you are a resolutioner, start the year off right with this healthy, low calorie recipes that is incredibly filling!

And while I’m not quite the “resolutioner” now as I was way back when, I do still set goals for myself. I just know I can’t expect them to be achieved, or see the results overnight. What I do know is that I plan to make 2013 rock as much as 2012 did!

Do/Did you set any resolutions or goals for yourself for 2013?