Quinoa and Sausage Stuffed Peppers

Since Thomas was born we've been really lucky to have so many friends bring us a meal. From our favorite take-out to delicious home cooked meals we've been so grateful for food as we transition to a family of four. It's amazing how much more time you have to snuggle your new baby and chase your toddler around when you don't have to food prep, cook and clean up the kitchen! I have a feeling there will be a lot of cereal for dinner in our future. 
Anyway, last week my friend Lisa dropped off an amazing dinner which included quinoa and sausage stuffed peppers. She even included a laminated recipe card with our meal so we could make it again and again...which we will absolutely be doing. And because it was so delicious, I feel inclined to share this goodness with everyone! So here it is...a pretty and savory dinner served in an edible cup!

This meal is a great option to bring to someone who recently had a baby, experienced a loss or had surgery. All the recipient has to do is pop it in the oven for a few minutes under the broiler and it's ready to eat! This also lasted us several meals too!

Quinoa and Sausage Stuffed Peppers
From 100 Days of Real Food Cookbook 
 
Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed

4 large bell peppers, any color

1 link (3-4 oz) mild Italian sausage, casing removed 

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup diced mushrooms, any variety

1/4 cup pine nuts (optional but recommended)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 

Directions 
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium saute pan, melt the butter over very low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

3. In a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine the quinoa and 1 1/3 cups water over high heat. When the water comes to a boil, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook until the water is completely absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. 

4. While the quinoa is cooking, cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise. Scoop the cores and seeds out of the middle and discard. Place the peppers in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with the cut side facing up and bake until tender when pierced by a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.

5. While the peppers are roasting, turn the heat under the onion up to medium. Add the sausage to the pan. Crumble the sausage using a spatula while it cooks.

6. When the sausage is almost brown all the way through, add the garlic, mushrooms, and pine nuts. Cook for 3 or 4 more minutes, until the pine nuts have begun to turn brown.

7. Stir in the salt, cream, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan and cook until the mixture thickens, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the cooked quinoa. 

8. If cooking liquid has accumulated inside the peppers, use tongs to drain the peppers into the sink. Divide the quinoa filling evenly among the pepper cavities. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and bake the peppers for 10 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top turns a golden brown. Take care that it doesn't burn; the broiler works quickly! Serve warm.