Gooseberry Patch's Hearty Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Oh how I love the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks! I can't believe it took me so long to try them. But now that I have, I'm hooked. All the recipes are affordable and easy! This one is a filling recipe that is great for lunch and comes from their cookbook, 101 Cozy Casseroles!

Hearty Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

2 1/2 cups herb-flavored stuffing mix, divided
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
14 1/2 oz can whole tomatoes, chopped
8 oz can corn, drained
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 large green peppers, quartered

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2) Mix together 1/4 cup dry stuffing mix and butter; set aside.
3) Brown the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat; drain.
4) Stir in chopped tomatoes, corn, salt and pepper. Add remaining stuffing mix.
5) Arrange green peppers in an ungreased 2-quart casserole dish. Spoon beef mixture into each pepper.
6) Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
7) Sprinkle reserved stuffing mixture over top of peppers and cook, uncovered, for another 5 minutes.

*Helpful Hint* I recommend using 3 large green peppers. I had a lot of leftover filling. OR you could put that left over in little ramekins and enjoy it without the green pepper.

When it's rainy... it's time for Creamy Potato Soup

It's been a little chilly and rainy out here in Italy and to me that means comfort food is a must. Seeing is my husband is a soup-lover I thought I'd whip up a Creamy Potato Soup from Gooseberry Patch's Dinners on a Dime cookbook. It was really quick and easy and quite tasty. Best part, you can make it your own by adding what you would put on your baked potato like cheddar cheese!

Creamy Potato Soup
Yield: 4 Servings

8 slices bacon
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (go ahead, use leftovers!)
10 3/4 oz can cream of chicken soup
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

1) In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside, reserving drippings.
2) Saute onion in bacon drippings; drain.
3) Combine remaining ingredients in a large saucepan. Crumble in bacon, stir in onion. Simmer until heated through. 

Gooseberry Patch's Pizza Potato Puff Casserole

I'm pretty sure you can't make a bad meal if tater tots are involved. Am I right? That being said, this Gooseberry Patch Pizza Potato Puff Casserole from their 101 Cozy Casseroles cookbook, is a quick and tasty dish to make for Friday pizza night.

Pizza Potato Puff Casserole
Yield: 4 servings

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
10 3/4 oz can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz can pizza sauce
12 to 15 slices peperoni
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
16 oz pkg. frozen potato puffs (tater tots)

1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2) Brown beef and onion in a skillet over medium-high heat; drain.
3) Stir in soup. Spoon beef mixture into a 8"x8" baking pan that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray.
4) Spoon pizza sauce evenly over beef mixture; arrange peperoni and green pepper over sauce.
5) Sprinkle with cheese; arrange potato puffs over top.
6) Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes.

What's great about this recipe is that you can make it how you like your pizza. If you like other veggies, go ahead and add them! Not a fan of pepperoni, leave it out! Make it your way!