Stuffed Mexican Mini Peppers with Quinoa

This has been a recipe I have been wanting to make for a while. I finally made it yesterday and they were so good. I have been making a lot of vegetable recipes this week. It is fun to enhance the flavors of the vegetables and make them more exciting to eat. I think the color of this add a lot to the presentation of the dish. I love all the red, orange and yellow. These would make a great snack, side dish, or appetizer. They are a winner. You can cook the peppers or eat them uncooked. I enjoyed them uncooked. I loved the having the crunch as I ate it. I love the fact that it is a healthy appetizer that is hard to find.

Ingredients

3-4 T olive oil
1/4 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
4 T chia  seeds *optional
2/3 C cooked quinoa
2/3 C cooked brown rice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin*
1/4 tsp chili powder*
1/4 C cheese shredded *optional (for vegan leave out)
handful of cilantro
12 mini peppers washed
garnish with cilantro

Directions  Heat oven to 350 if you are going to cook the peppers

1. Place skillet on the stove on medium heat. Pour in the oil and let heat up on medium heat.
2. Pour in the onion, and garlic and stir them around. Let them cook until they start to turn a light golden color. Stir in chia and let cook another 2 min.
3. Stir in the quinoa, rice, salt, cumin, chili powder and *cheese. Let them all cook until they are all warmed up. Toss in the cilantro after you take it off the heat.
4. While the stuffing is cooking. Cut a slit lengthwise on the peppers.
5. Get a small spoon and stuff the mixture into the peppers.
6. Place them on a greased cookie sheet if baking. Bake for 15-18 min until softened. Take out of the oven and let them cool.
7. If you want to eat them raw. Stuff the peppers and eat them immediately. I think they taste better when the filling is warm.
8. Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. A great little snack. Heat them up in the microwave when you are ready to eat them.

*You can substitute 1 tsp of taco seasoning for cumin and chili powder.