Last night I was sitting at the computer, browsing recipes online and trying to ignore the voice inside me that has been telling me to start working out again. After wasting some time on the computer I took a look at the clock and it was only going on 6:00pm. The house was clean and there was really nothing that I needed to be doing, so I got tired of sitting around being lazy and decided to pop in a workout DVD. I have been doing a lot of Yoga, but haven’t been able to go for long walks, due to it being so cold out these days. Lately I have been missing the feeling of being sore after a good workout and haven’t had that since I first began running this summer. So, I got changed into my workout clothes and so did Autumn, she wanted to join me. 🙂

We decided to do an Intensati workout. It whipped me. I used to be so good at it and it was so easy to me. Today I am definitely feeling that post workout soreness that I was craving and it actually makes me happy. I am excited about getting back into it again because I like exercise that is not focused all on changing your body, but feeling good and taking care of all of ourselves, body, mind and spirit. I don’t believe that exercise should be about burning calories, getting a hot body or dreaded, but fun, exciting and enjoyable. I also don’t believe that we need to lift weights or do crunches to get fit and healthy. Intensati and Yoga are my favorites and what I am going to do this winter to keep my mood up during the long, cold, dark winter. If you haven’t heard of Patricia Moreno or Intensati, check out satilife.com.

Today I have been busily writing out my recipes onto index cards and making little recipe books. It is a tedious job and has kept me busy nearly all day. I did take a break long enough to make a delicious meal of course. Since Craig wasn’t going to be home for dinner we ate our dinner earlier than usual. I wanted to make something yummy, filling and colorful.

And covered in cheese…

Perfect! 🙂

Italian Rice and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

Makes 5 stuffed peppers

• 5 large bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 small zucchini, diced
• 1 bell pepper of your choice, diced
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 cups your favorite pasta sauce
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup grated soy mozzarella cheese

Directions

Heat the sunflower oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the diced onion and crushed garlic and saute 3-5 minutes. Add the diced zucchini and diced peppers to the onion and garlic along with the Italian seasoning. Cook 10-12 minutes, until the vegetables become soft.

Stir in the pasta sauce, cooked brown rice and black beans. Cook 5 -10 minutes more, until the entire mixture is hot. Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside while you prepare the peppers.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cut the tops off of the 5 large bell peppers, rinse and take out the seeds.

Blanch the peppers in the boiling water for a few minutes, watching them carefully. You do not want them to get too soft or they will not stand.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stand the blanched peppers up in a baking dish and stuff them with the Italian bean/rice mixture.

Top with the grated soy mozzarella cheese and bake for 15 minutes. Broil the peppers for the last few minutes of the baking time to melt the cheese.

Cut in half and eat!!

You could also cut the peppers in half before you bake them and then top each half with cheese, but you may need more cheese if you decide to do that. I think I will try that next time because we love the cheese and it totally makes these.

Autumn had a lot of fun eating these with her hands and making a big mess!

Then she got a little crazy and tried to steal my pepper.

Unsuccessfully I might add. She is just not sneaky enough, her giggling always gives her away.

These are another favorite dinner around here. I personally love anything with tomato sauce and cheese (pasta, pizza etc). So do the girls. YUM! 🙂

Tonight I am going to relax and recover from that intense workout I had. Plans include cuddling up with the girls and watching some more Little House On The Prairie. They have gotten quite obsessed with that show. Well, maybe I have too. Who doesn’t love Michael Landon!

Have a great night! 🙂