As a child, the dish of stuffed peppers were in the regular rotation of meals that my Mom versed us in preparing while she was at work. My brothers did not enjoy the pepper part of the dish so to avoid a debate, we would make extra large meatballs. My Mom’s recipe used green peppers and my DH can’t stand them so I tweaked the recipe using the coloured varieties.
Stuffed Peppers using the Flavour Enhancers
Flavour is a huge component to a dish and to cooking it. If a dish is under or over seasoned it can really affect the taste and experience of the dish. Simply over salting a dish will make all that work inedible and you will be ordering pizza in. 😉
As I was rummaging through my fridge, I found some ingredients that once cooked and purée would be similar and even better than a store-bought version of  ‘marinade’ or ‘spice package’. I can control the amount of salt, fat etc. leaving the chemicals out.
Bonus: Not wasting the mushrooms that might be on the edge….
The following are recipes for what I’m labelling as ‘Flavour Enhancers’.
I will be using them in future recipes on the 5 o’clock rush
Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Last night, my DD reminded me that it was her day for Muffin Wednesday. Say what? Baking really?!
I feel a little back story is necessary. Way back in culinary school, I thought that I might put my art school background to good use and take the path to become a pastry chef. I enrolled in some extracurricular night classes, specializing in cake decorating. What I soon discovered was that I was too picky or type “A” to become a pastry chef. Trust me, my cakes would be beyond perfect but I would never hit the due date and many brides would be very annoyed. I also realized that measuring or weighing the ingredients was sooooo tedious. And that is because baking is really just Chemistry, so I stuck to the chef path at school. 😉
Back to the Muffin Wednesday issue. I hit the web to search for a muffin recipe that could use my extremely over ripe bananas and I wouldn’t have to make a late run out to the grocery store. I found a great recipe and of course I tweaked it.
I must toot my own horn. The muffins turned out awesome; they are moist, with an overdose of chocolate and border on a cupcake without the frosting. 😀
Double Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Continue to the Recipe for Chocolatey Goodness
Yesterday was May 5th or Cinco de Mayo, so the plans for dinner were going to involve the tastes and flavours of Mexico. In my house, taco night is a family favourite.
Tacos are simple, inexpensive and adjustable to what the kids like in their tacos.
I chose to use lean turkey as my main filling for the tacos and the kids did not miss the beef component once the spices were added.
Soft Tacos with Peach and Mango Salsa
The reasoning behind the name of my blog, the 5 o’clock rush came to true fruition last night. As I was driving the kids to their music lessons, my DS asked me, “What is for dinner?” I drew a BLANK. I knew that dinner tonight had to be fast and easy so I could be fed and at Advanced Hockey Training for 730pm without that full belly feeling. FYI Lessons are at 5pm LOL!
En route to lessons, we passed Boston Pizza restaurant and that is when it hit me. I have always enjoyed a baked pasta dish with shrimp and feta. And I have the largest feta supply from a recent trip to Costco. 😉
Switching up a few ingredients……Dinner is done! WHEW!
Baked Chicken, Bacon and Feta Farfalle
the 5 o'clock rush 