Seriously Spooky Stuffed Peppers

I don’t particularly like Halloween.

Halloween decorations are tacky and expensive. Who enjoys having plastic versions of maimed bodies around the house?

It is definitely my least favourite holiday of the year. And a tradition I really don’t get.

Without going through why I believe the original meaning of the whole thing has been completely distorted from a season of reflection and remembrance into yet another commercial strategy. One that gives people (as if we need it) another reason to consume compulsively.

And if I don't give you something to consume, you are now welcome to egg my house.

Okay, no please don’t.

It’s just that I can’t find anything special about how October 31st is nowadays. Children do nothing different to what they do any other day of the year.

They dress up.

They eat sweets.

Then they beg for more. They cry. They yell. And you let them eat them all ,even if you swore that was not happening again this year.

Then it is sugar rush time. Followed by tantrum time. And don’t want to go bed time. And just another last one please time.

And that’s Halloween.

Yay.

However, the boys love it so much I tend to do a watered down version of Halloween. Lots of crafts and cooking. None of dead bodies or creepy creatures shopping.

They dress up. I dress up. Not in scary costumes, just in anything we fancy. Mostly with old clothes or recycled stuff. Not with these slutty costumes you can buy in Tesco for just £5.99. In sizes from 6 years onwards. Not with Jack the Ripper costumes. Just with normal childrens costumes.

And we may eventually go out for a walk on Halloween night, just because it is fun going out at night. Seeing carved pumpkins and discovering what our neighbourhood looks like when it is dark. Not begging for stale sweets from last year. Not knocking to stranger’s doors when I spend the whole year talking to them about not trusting strangers. Sorry, no.

Call me a spoilsport. A grinch. A miser. But I just don’t get why some people seem to love Halloween so much.

So to celebrate this particular Halloween week, we've prepared some spooky food that will add a touch of fun to your table without the post sugar rush cold turkey. These stuffed peppers are easy to prepare and healthy to eat. Who doesn't love eating a good mummy?

Happy Halloween!



WHAT YOU NEED

 Serves 4

4 Fresh Peppers
500gr Beef Mince
250gr Chopped Tomatoes
1 Onion
1 Garlic Clove
A pinch of oregano or any other herb of your choice
Salt & Pepper to taste
1tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Free Range Eggs
Black Olives
1 Shortcrust Pastry Roll

WHAT YOU DO

Pre-heat the oven to 180C.

Wash the peppers in fresh running water. Cut carefully in half, leaving aside the half with the stalk. These are the ones we'll use for stuffing.

In a deep pan, put the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and garlic and pan-fry for around 5 minutes until soft and brown. Chop the pepper halves (without the stalk) and add to the mixture.

Season the meat with the herbs, salt and pepper and add to the onion. Cook stirring occasionally for around 10 minutes. Finally, add the chopped tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Unroll the pastry and cut into thin strips. Roll each pepper in the pastry strips, so they look like a spooky mummy.

Put the peppers carefully in an oven proof tray and bake until the pastry is golden brown.

Boil the egg and cut into round slices. Put 2 slices on each pepper and add 2 slices of the black olives on top to make the eyes of your mummies.

Serve hot and eat carefully!!