Baked Green Bell Pepper

It is quite cold in these few days in London.  Temperatures have been dropping to below freezing since Monday night.  The Met Office website states that December will be colder than average and there is a small chance of snow at the beginning of next month. I am looking forward to a snowy Christmas in UK.

Sometimes I feel tired and sluggish during winter.  I find the most effective way to fight winter tiredness is to do regular exercise.  After doing an hour of Pilates in the afternoon, I feel more energetic and also improve my sleep.  In addition, a good diet can help me to wake up feeling fresh.  I reduce having food containing lots of sugar, like candies and chocolates.  Then I add more fruit and vegetables in winter meals and always boil soup for the whole family.  It is because the air is very dry here.  

Every morning I always have a big bowl of porridge oats and a piece of whole grain toast for breakfast.  When I woke up this morning, I thought of adding a bit ‘green’ to my breakfast.  I baked a green pepper which is stuffed with veggie and mozzarella cheese.  It is yummy!  It makes me feel healthy and starts the day off right.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serve: 1

Ingredients:

-      1 medium size green pepper (top and seeds removed)

-      40g onion (finely diced)

-      38g pumpkin (finely diced)

-      20g portobello mushroom (finely diced)

-      20g baby spinach  

-      30g mozzarella cheese (shredded)

-      1 tbsp fish sauce

-      1 garlic clove (crushed)

-      ¼tsp olive oil

-      100 ml water  

Method:

1.	Preheat oven to 180°c.
2.	Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.  Add oil and garlic, stir-fry for 30 seconds.  Reduce to low heat; add pumpkin and 70ml water. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes.  Then add onion, mushroom, 30ml water and fish sauce, stir-fry for another 2 minutes over low-medium heat.  Toss in baby spinach and cook for 1 minute.  Remove from heat.
3.	In the meantime, fill the pepper with the cooked vegetables and mozzarella cheese.
4.	Arrange stuffed pepper in a baking dish.  Bake in preheated oven until heated through, about 20-25 minutes.
5.	Ready to serve with toast and green smoothie.

Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich

My family members start to be busy this week.  My VIP has started a new page in her life.  Wish her enjoy her university life!  The others are very busy with work.  I feel relaxed and have more time to spend on cooking, reading and gardening.  I start to cook simple,  quick and healthy food for ‘one’ at lunch.  If you are a vegetarian, just skip the ham.  It’s still delicious.  

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serve: 1

Ingredients:

•   1 medium size avocado (pitted and peeled)
•   ½tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp clear honey
• ½tbsp butter or margarine             
• 2 slices of wholemeal bread
• 2 slices white cheese
• 30g ham (optional for vegetarian)
• A pinch of salt and ground black pepper

Method:

1.	Mash the avocado with lemon juice and honey.  Chop the ham finely. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper to mix it well with the avocado.
2.	Pre-heat the oven at 140°c for 10 minutes.
3.	Spread butter or margarine on one side of each slice of bread.  Then put a piece of cheese on top of the buttered sides.
4.	Spread avocado on the top of the cheese and close the sandwich.
5.	Place a non-grease baking paper on the baking tray.  Then put the sandwich on the tray and bake for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
6.	Slice in half and serve.