Meatloaf Stuffed Peppers

A couple weeks ago, I was texting my wife about dinner plans. I had some ground beef defrosting. Below is the text conversation:

I had never heard of that so I went to pinterest, searched for "meatloaf stuffed peppers", and found this recipe.

Basic Recipe:

Make meatloaf, fill bell pepper with raw meatloaf mixture, bake, and enjoy.

Full recipe here.

Here are my thoughts:

The bell pepper definitely enhances the taste of the meat loaf. I skipped the salsa in the pan from the original recipe. I think this meatloaf recipe will become my go-to. I like the flavor and the texture of it better than the one I used to make. I even made it the next day for the company we were expecting.

 

If I were to make this again, what would I do differently?

• I would like to get a rack to cook the meatloaf on so the fat can drain. 
• I would like to add some jalapenos to the meatloaf to give it a little kick.
• I would like to make the pepper rings shorter and try eating in as a hamburger (on a bun)

 

Have you ever tried combining two recipes ideas together?

How did it turn out?

Do you have any ideas of recipes to combine?

Bucket List #2 - Graduate college

Item #2 from my bucket list is complete. Here is the story:

On May 16, 2008 I participated in the School of Engineering Graduation Ceremony. Below is a lovely picture screenshot of a proof of me receiving my diploma. That day I thought, "18 years of school and I am never going back." I think one day in the (distant) future I may go back to school to get an MBA but not anytime soon.

 

It only took 5 years, but I graduated! I passed 136 credits and completed the requirements for a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University. Sadly I was only 1 credit hour away from a minor in mathematics and 4 credits away from a minor in physics. My GPA will remain unpublished but it is safe to say it was not on my resume.

I am a first generation college graduate. For this I am very proud. Although, it must have been and act of God that I graduated. There were a couple classes that some friends really helped me through and I barely passed them. There was (maybe) one class were I was helping people through. Actually, that is probably because I was repeating it since I failed the first (or second) time. There was one class, in my final semester, that I struggled through all semester; After the final (which I am convince I bombed) I talked to the professor to inquire about extra credit or so something to ensure I would graduate. He told me not to worry. A week later, my grade was posted - I got a C!

Richmond... we have a love-hate relationship. As a student, it was great that everything was walking or biking distance. I never had a car in college so I bought groceries one backpack at a time. I love all the local restaurants; they have so much variety. I really enjoyed the river and the mountain biking trails near by. I don't think I would move back there. Numerous friends were mugged, robbed, and had car windows smashed. I always carried a knife when I was in Richmond. I am glad I never had to pull it (thank God) but I was always prepared to. I never felt scared when I was there but I didn't feel safe. I wouldn't want my family to feel that way on a daily basis.

 

If I were to do this again, what would I do differently?

This is a really hard one. I definitely enjoyed my time at college. I definitely matured and grew but at what expense? If I knew what I know now when I graduated high school, I don't think I would have gone to VCU or maybe even college. When I was a senior in high school the decision was pretty easy: I was accepted to GMU and VCU, the only schools I applied to. GMU was too close to my parents and I wanted to get away. Nothing else came into the decision making process. I did not know anything about finances or how I would pay for school but I was set on getting out of my parents house. Every month (when I pay my student loans) I am forced to remember how important and costly that decision was.
I think my life would be drastically different if I had gone to GMU (or no college at all) but I am so thankful for everything in my life (wife, kids, job, etc.) that I wouldn't change it.

Did you go to college?
Do you look back and think that is a huge decision for a 18 year old to make?
Do you plan to go back to school?

Nutella Hot Chocolate

One evening my wife and I were wanting some chocolate. Okay, this probably happens every night, but there no chocolate to be found! No ice cream; no brownie mix; no cake mix; nothing. I did find some chocolate chips and some Nutella. Before scarfing down the chocolate chips, I searched pinterest to find a recipe to try. Nutella Hot Chocolate to the rescue.

 

A list of other recipes I have made here.

Basic Recipe:

Heat up some milk. Melt in some chocolate chips and Nutella. Top with whip cream. Enjoy!

Full recipe here

Here are my thoughts:

• Awesome!
• This is very rich and chocolaty

If I were to make this again, what would I do differently?

• Make more! (Only made enough for 2 cups)
• More Nutella; less chocolate

Do you enjoy hot chocolate?
Have you had Nutella hot chocolate?
What is your favorite way to eat Nutella?

Fresh Pepper Salsa

Pinterest recipe review for Fresh Pepper Salsa
See the other recipes I have made here

Basic Recipe:
Chop up peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, etc. Add corn, lime juice, olive oil, and black beans. Mix everything together.
Full recipe here

Here are my thoughts:

• Not bad but nothing special
• Peppers over-power everything
• Couldn't taste the cilantro (the reason I made it)

If I were to make this again, what would I do differently?
I doubt I would make it again since there are so many recipes for salsa with cilantro in it. I don't think that reducing the amount of peppers in the recipe would make a difference. Maybe I will try a salsa with fruit in it...

What is your favorite salsa recipe?
What kind of salsa do you like? (i.e. spicy, mild, sweet, chunky)

Redskins recap

There are 2 teams I root for:

1. The Washington Redskins
2. Anyone playing the Dallas Cowboys

That being said, this has been the most exciting football season in some time. We currently don't have TV service at our house so I probably only watched about half of the games this year. The remaining games I streamed the radio broadcast through my phone. Growing up we used to listen to the radio broadcast as we watched the game which is far superior to the announcers on the network stations. You can't be a Redskins fan and enjoy listening to Aikman commentate on the game.

I think any (and every) Redskins fan was excited going into this season; primarily because of RG3. I know I was. I named my fantasy team "In RG3 we Trust" and bought an RG3 t-shirt before he even played a single down.

The season started off a little shaky but you could tell there was still the excitement throughout the area.  I tweeted when they were 2-2 and 3-3, very exited to be at .500. Three straight loses going into the bye week put a damper on everyone's spirits. Then the party started! Seven wins in a row including: two wins agaist the Eagles (who have the worst fans), a win against Baltimore in the "Battle of the Beltways", beating Dallas on Thanksgiving day and finally another win over Dallas (thanks tony turnover) to win the division, make the playoffs, and finish the season at 10-6 (a far cry from the 2-14 that was predicted by ESPN)

Unfortunately, the post-season for the Redskins ended last night. "At least we have hockey now!" is what everyone is saying. Everyone is second guessing the decisions to keep RG3 in the game last night; STOP! You are only doing this because the outcome of the game. If the Redskins would have won, none of this would be taking place. It is easy to look back and blame a single decision for the outcome but it is not that simple.

A quick shout out to my wife who told me to pick up RG3 in fantasy football in the 10th round of the draft after drafting Matt Stafford in an earlier round. This made the season even more exciting because with each successful play, my fantasy football team exceeded as well.

I hope that the off season will be a chance for the Redskins to heal, continue to build, and develop as a team. I can't wait until August! HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!