Stuffing Things (Example: Lamb-Stuffed Bell Pepper)

Tonight I stuffed some leftover lamb and other stuff into orange bell peppers and realized that there's kind of a formula for stuffing things. I'll use this dish as an example for how to stuff things.
 

Garlic-Pistachio-Crusted Chicken and Stuffed Mushrooms

This meal came about because I hadn't yet eaten enough of the garlic pistachios that had been sitting around the kitchen. "Hey, we have some chicken, too!" And thus one of my best meals came about. And there was much rejoicing. The chicken was nice and garlicky, the marinade was great and it turned out quite tender. The mushrooms were quite savory as well. I fully recommend this meal to anyone willing to put a little bit of work into making a fine meal.

This fed five people, with a salad on the side, for about $30!

Shepherd's Pie

This is probably my most-favorite-est meal to make. It's easy enough to do, it's almost always good, and it's quite variable and easy to experiment with. Tonight was probably the 20th or so time I've made this, and every time I add something new in. I was kind of looking back at my Shep's Pie history, and it really has developed quite a bit. First, it was just onions, meat, potatoes, and cheese. Then I added some tomatoes to the sauce. Then I added peas and carrots. Then I thought why not, and added broccoli. Sometimes corn makes it in there, too. I went to an Irish pub/restaurant and got the Shep's Pie, and theirs had no cheese, which really disappointed me. But, they spiced the meat with cinnamon or nutmeg or something like that, and it made a really interesting taste. This really changed the way I cooked meat. Now I think of a meat sauce type meal as needing some sweetness. Especially with the potatoes and the cheese, the sweet spices really make a very tasty change to the dish!

Feeds 6 or 7, or feeds 4 with lots of leftovers! Total meal cost: $20-25 (I used pretty high quality ingredients this time, so it might have been more like $30. Usually it's cheaper though).

How I Do Onions

Onions are a really big part of any dish they are in, and they serve a vital role in most savory dishes. I'd say there's kind of an art to making onions, because they are what is going to make the base of your meal, the  background of your composition. You have to decide whether you want them to play a dominant role, and slice them large, or to stick more in the background, finely chopped, more like a spice than a major ingredient. Either way, they have the potential to add a whole range of flavors.

The Amazing Spicy Jar of Awesomeness!

In this deceptively small plastic jar, a monster awaits. This Huy Phong chili-garlic sauce will add a Chuck Lidell-style punch to whatever you add it to. It tastes just how you would think "spicy" tastes, adding a spicy garlic flavor your meal that you can't get just from garlic, or even those little red pepper flakes. It's just the right kind of spicy, too. It's like a sauna: uncomfortable for a second, then you feel cleansed and warm for the rest of the night.

Use it in anything, really. It's good on veggies and in sauces, really wherever you want spicy. It's called for in peanut sauces (coming soon), and many other Asian dishes. Also, it's made from real peppers and garlic, no fake flavors or anything. Ethan's seal of approval!

First Post! Honey Mustard Chicken with Green Beans in a Chili-Soy-Garlic Sauce

This was a pretty tasty combination of flavors. At first I was thinking teriaki beef with a green bean stir fry, but I decided to go for a  sweet flavor in chicken to go the with salty-spicy veggies.

This meal fed 3 people, and cost around $15 to make!