Stuffed to the Brim

    

"Fat Kid in Winter Stuffed Peppers"

    This weeks post will be a little more basic because it's sunny out and I don't want to type a lot. (At least I'm being honest with you). But when the weather is nice like this in October you've gotta take advantage of that sh*t. Because we all know in two weeks IL will be back to GLOOM and DOOM. Or as I like to call it the month of November. But with the cold weather brings a fat persons favorite time of the year, ICE COLD AIR. Cold weather means layers. Layers mean more fabric to hide our insecurities. And while I am sucker for some layers, the reasons why I have loved them have shifted greatly over the past four years.

    Clothes shopping being a fat kid is no fun. Period. You go to the mall with your friends and all the stores that are "popular" cater to smaller bodies. So you walk into Hollister, Abercrombie, and Aeropostale and come up with excuse after excuse for why you didn't buy something. When in reality it's because they have nothing in your size. As a kid I used to to stick to baggy clothes, nothing form fitting, and skinny jeans??? Never met that b*tch. I loved winter time because I could hide every part of my body and for the first time everyone "looked" the same. Well sorta. I was stuffed in my puffer jacket like a dumpling, while the skinny people were sleek in their North Faces. But joke's on them now though because I was never cold. As I grew older the more layers I could stuff myself into the better. Coupled with hyper hidrosis, multiple pieces of clothing hid the fat and the sweat. (WIN, WIN). Even when winter was over I would stuff myself into a swim shirt at the pool and claim it was for sunburn. When in reality I was embarrassed of my body.

    But then you get to college and NO ONE CARES IF YOU ARE FAT AND HAVE SKIN SHOWING. Like some still do, but they're quickly cancelled or become alcoholics so whatever. When I went on a beach trip after my freshman year I decided to embrace how I looked and rocked a tank top. And guess what? No comments. No stares. No discomfort. All because I realized there's no reason to stuff your body into discomfort when letting all the flab show makes you feel SO much happier. From then on out I have learned to LOVE my fat body. I let my skin show. And I let everyone know, I am fat and I am proud. But on the topic of stuffing (great transition right? I told you this weeks blog ain't gonna be pretty) the recipe for today is stuffed peppers aka the food I hated most as a child. But now a pepper freak, I decided to make them again with a twist. So I present to you friends "Fat Kid in Winter Stuffed Peppers".

What you'll need:

4 bell peppers (whatever color you want)
2 tsp olive oil

1 lb. ground turkey

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 small tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 cup bread crumbs

1 5 oz bag of spinach

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

How to do it:

1. Preheat oven to 325. Heat olive oil in large skillet. Add in ground turkey, onions, and garlic. Cook until turkey is browned and onions are translucent.

2. Add in chickpeas, tomatoes and ALL seasonings. Cook for 5 more minutes.

3. Turn off heat and add in bread crumbs and mozz. cheese.

4. Core bell peppers and stuff TO THE BRIM with your filling and place in a baking dish. 

5. Bake for 25 minutes and then remove and add parmesan cheese to the top and bake an additional 10 more minutes. 

6. Remove, let cool, and enjoy! I served mine with harvest potatoes!!

Messy plate.....oopie

    The inside of these peppers are what make the meal shine. They are dense and filling, while reminding me of being stuffed after a hearty Thanksgiving meal. Packed with protein these peppers will leave you feeling better than me in the winter. While it has taken me years to love the body I am in, I finally do. Stuffed, layered, or chunky it's what's on the inside that truly matters.

xoxo,

The Fat Foodie