Stuffed peppers recipe + back/shoulders workout

You know those meal ideas that you have floating around in your head that you want to make, but keep on forgetting about? I started writing them down on a sticky note on my computer every time I thought of one. It helps me keep track of them, but does it make me any better at remembering to make them? No!

I've had stuffed peppers on that list since September, but Friday was the first time I actually got around to making them! I loosely based them on my mom's meat stuffed peppers, but I decided to make them vegetarian with a few flavour swaps.



Black bean and rice stuffed peppers
Serves 4 as a side dish or 2 as a meal

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped red pepper
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp paprika (optional)
1 cup cooked black beans
1 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup + 3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup feta cheese
Salt and pepper
2 large sweet peppers

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Heat up the olive oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onion. Reduce the heat to low and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the red pepper and continue to cook until it softens. Next add in a minced clove of garlic. Cook for 30 seconds then remove from heat.

Put the mixture to a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the parsley, paprika, black beans, rice, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, feta cheese, and salt and pepper.

Cut open the two peppers lengthwise to create two halves and remove all the seeds. Place the halves in a glass baking dish and divide the stuffing equally into them. Pour the rest of the tomato sauce into the dish, including on top of the peppers. Then cover the dish with tinfoil and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until the peppers are soft.



I ate mine with some kale chips for a delicious balanced meal.



Saturday morning I had a gym date with my friend. We used to go to the gym together all the time in sophomore year, but we've had really different schedules for the past few years so we haven't been able to go together lately. It was so fun to have a gym buddy for once! I did this awesome back and shoulders workout I had planned out.

Back and shoulders workout

Note: you can sub in any other cardio machine for the ones I used

15 minute warm up on the elliptical

3x10 dumbbell row
3x10 shoulder press

3 minutes running at 6.5 mph

3x10 rear lateral raise
3x10 front raise

3 minutes running at 6.5 mph

3x10 lat pulldown
3x10 lateral raise

3 minutes running at 6.5 mph

3x10 cable row
3x10 lying external rotation

5 minute cooldown on the stationary bike

My upper body is definitely feeling it today. Especially since I moved up to 60 lb on the lat pulldown - a new PR!!!

The rest of the day was filled with baking (recipe coming soon!), homework, cleaning, and my friend's birthday at night. I made Angela's Crispy Breaded Tofu Strips for dinner before I left - they were delicious!



Today I'm going for a run, making homemade granola, doing some homework, and popping out to the mall with my friend for a bit. Hope you all have a great day!

How do you keep track of all the recipes you want to make? Or do you always forget about them like me?

What's your favourite kind of stuffed vegetable?

What's the last blog recipe you made?