Stuff the pepper or the squash.  That is the question.

So of course I tried both.  Then got a flu shot and crashed.  Without giving the flu shot a second thought.  I went home and fixed the four Paper Chef ingredients two ways and while they were baking and filling the house with the glories of Anaheim pepper, butternut and acorn squash aroma, I bottomed and was useless.  I was especially useless with the camera for the two I did on Monday. 

If you haven’t discovered Paper Chef see Ilva here and here where Magus is host this month.

Here’s my story about Lentils, Anaheim Peppers, Turkey and Squash:

First, I got this very romantic idea about stuffing the peppers and wrapping them with . . . OK a little slower . . .

One day I go to the store, they have no winter squash.  The next day I go to the store, they’re over-running with winter squash.  I’m so indecisive but hey they’ll last a long time even on the counter.  I like to think of them as summer sun waiting ever so patiently to be winter sunshine on my plate.

And people, let me tell you Texas has gorgeous peppers of all kinds right now.   The Anaheim's  I came home with were knock outs and I love ‘em.

So I peel this beauty - with a veggie peeler mind you not this knife.  This knife . . . gosh I didn’t tell you yet.  I won, yes as in win knock-your-socks-off big win!  Three of these beautiful knives came to me from a sweetheart of a blogger, Kalyn of Kalyn’s Kitchen celebrating 3 years of Weekend Herb Blogging!!   The knives are made by and came direct to me from New West Knifeworks.   They’re called Fusionwood which gives you a gorgeous rainbow of colors on the handles but beautiful knife handles don’t cut.

Rest assured, these babies can do their job of cutting

and chopping with grace and ease.  Their beauty is more than skin deep.  New West Knifeworks now has me saving my money for their Santoku and maybe the paring knives.

Simple to cook the black lentils in a little veggie broth for 15 minutes.  They’re done.

The butternut squash cubes I tossed in olive oil, balsamic, salt & pepper: oven roasted at 375° 20 minutes, toss, roast another 20 minutes.  So good all by itself!!

Toss the roasted butternut squash, black lentils, chopped sage and these dramatic pomegranate seeds.  Umm, I think it needs just a touch of something else . . .

Yes, just a touch of cheese.

Tuck that stuffing into those lovely peppers wrap and bake them.  Oh no,  I haven’t forgotten the turkey.

And you thought I’d forgotten the turkey.  Turkey bacon wrap!!  Baked at 370° for 15 minutes and then broil to get some crisp and color.  Some Anaheim’s are very mild, these were pretty warm.  I loved them.  They were a little too spicy for Gory. 

The rice cooled the spicy.  I wanted there to be more stuffing but Anaheim’s are narrow limited volume cavities. 

That was Sunday night.  The mind runs different possibilities around. 

So Monday after my trip to the doc and my flu shot, I tried two things.  First I tried a casserole dish.  Everything is tossed together.  Topped with cheese.  Baked 25 minutes.  Tasty but not my favorite.

Remembering my stuffed pumpkin, I checked the fridge and put together - spicy turkey sausage, roasted Anaheim peppers, caramelized onions, black lentils, chopped sage, a little rice and

stuffed that cutie of an acorn squash.  This people was terrific taste . . . This is super fantastic great taste . . .

How good are you with a fever, a ravenous hunger, two glorious dishes to pick between and a camera in hand?  I know you’re a saint and take the photos . . .  guess that makes me a bad girl with a happy tummy sent to bed early;) and then this morning my fever is gone.

Can’t wait now for Magus’s round up because I’m always so impressed to see where people can take the same four ingredients!!