Stuffed chilies

I'm not sure what provoked me to buy the chilies at the grocery store- perhaps it was the man on the side of the road with the big chili roaster selling roasted chilies. I could probably throw them on the grill or something. I bought a zucchini to grill that night that never got grilled and the chilies sat on the counter. Two days later, I thought, "chili rellenos!" Don't really know how to make those either. So last night as the chilies were wilting, I diced the zucchini with an onion and sauteed both in a little olive oil and cumin. I opened a can of black beans and rinsed them to set aside. Then I diced a block of pepper jack cheese. I microwaved the slit chilies for 5min while I mixed up our third batch of the cookie smores (so easy and such a big hit...see below) and tried not to get the onion flavor on the graham crackers or the beans into the cookie dough.

Then I stuffed the chilies with the veggies and beans and topped with the diced cheese (instead of the marshmallows reserved for the cookies), wrapped in foil and tossed on the grill for 5-10min. I liked the stuffing, but thought my mild chili was bland and decided the mixture could use some diced chilies...until I tried the medium hot chili- hello flavor!

Try it. Fast, easy, fresh & healthy. Mandy, you can sub the beans!

Best Bake Sale item EVER

The Macaroon.

For some reason, with it's divine texture and tropical flavor, I assumed it must be terribly hard to make. The fact that you only found them in high-end bakeries must make them, somehow, difficult for the non-pastry chef to prepare. Right?

So. Wrong.

I have found the absolute easiest cookie on the planet. You will thank me, regardless of your fondness (or lack thereof) for coconut. You will thank me because someday you will need a dessert for book club, or a last minute bake sale item or preschool snack, and you will be able to make 2 dozen of these little bites of heaven in under 20 minutes.

GO!

Macaroon

2-1/2 C flaked coconut
1/3 C all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 c sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine coconut, flour & salt

Add milk and vanilla and stir.

Drop by tbsp onto greased baking sheets. Bake 350 12-15 min. Cool on wire racks.

Devour! (or dip in dark chocolate if you have time to spare...oh my goodness!)