Can we all be in agreement that pizza is the bomb. Seriously though, it’s a pretty amazing creation. Unfortunately as a grain-free, health foodie I often find myself dreaming about it more than eating it. It pretty much haunts me most days. If anything, pizza is and always has been my craving. Nope, not chocolate or candy or sugar for that matter. Yes, you can call me crazy but what I crave more than anything is a thick piece of pizza with the gooey, oozy cheese and fresh tomato sauce. –>DROOL<–
And while I’m not about deprivation I do try to remember what that thick piece of pizza is doing to my body and my gut for that matter. After the initial delicious explosion of flavor in your mouth and the comfort of swallowing, it goes to my stomach where it just sits in there like a brick, no a cinder block, waiting to be digested. All the while my body continually fights and works to digest that big ball of gluten and grease leaving me feeling anything but well. How’s that for a mental image? YIKES!
I know this, I know my body doesn’t like it so why? Why is it still so darn delicious? And why does it leave me wanting it all the time? WHY, WHY, WHY? –>INSERT TEARS<– Deep Breath!
Instead of feeling deprived, like I am missing out on the very thing that gives life, why not find an alternative way to get the flavors of pizza? Have I mentioned my food goals in life? Real, healthy, seasonal food made delicious. Like knock your socks off, hold the ice cream and ding-dong, real food deliciousness. Get my drift?
Life is so much enjoyable when you LOVE what you are eating, isn’t it? So why not do that but in a healthy way? This is what I call a realistic approach to nutrition. Love-it, eat-it, crave-it and feel so darn good doing it. Now that’s a B-E-A-U-T-F-U-L picture isn’t it?
Good food, healthy body, happy mind. Ahhh…so perfect! Now live it and believe you can!
And start with exhibit A…ah-hum… We have here some darn good looking (okay they don’t look that great but go with it) pizza stuffed peppers. All the flavor of pizza without all the bloat. Yes, it really is a great thing folks. A really, really great thing. Throw that deprivation out the window and put your own Italian, pizza twist on that stuffed pepper. Holla!
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil (butter)
- 1 yellow onion
- 2-3 cloves, garlic minced
- 2 cups mushrooms, chopped (optional)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 8 peppers
- Mozzarella cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop onion and mushrooms.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot add onion and mushrooms. Saute until tender.
- Add garlic and saute until fragrant or 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from pan and set-aside.
- In same skillet cook beef and sausage until done. Remove and place in bowl with onion and mushroom mixture.
- Add peeled and chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices. Mix thoroughly.
- Prepare peppers but washing, cutting top off and removing seeds.
- Fill peppers with meat and onion mixture and place in oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes, remove and add mozzarella cheese continue baking 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove and enjoy!