Incredible Roasted Peppers

Incredible Roasted peppers from start to finish...

The grocery store was having a sale - 10 for $10 and the 11th one is free.  I took advantage of that.  These peppers were incredibly fresh - firm to the touch and pretty.  They have been washed, dried, and are getting ready to hang out in the oven.  Set the temp to 400 degrees for about 1 hour (turning once at the 30 minute mark).  Careful - the natural juices will start to come out and that will create some fierce steam...

Not so pretty anymore...  They are cooked to perfection.  Next step is to pop them in a glass bowl immediately and cover with foil (not plastic wrap, unless you don't care about plastic being on your hot food - I sure do, so my choice is foil).  Let them rest for about 30 minutes.   Then it's time to peel the skin off each pepper and remove the seeds.  They will be very HOT so be careful.  Take off all the skin because otherwise, it will taste bitter.

Cut the peppers to your liking (I prefer strips -vs- chunks) and season to taste.  I used fresh ground pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and rice wine vinegar.  Mix them up and pop them in the fridge in an air tight container.

Peppers go with pretty much anything, such as this concoction:  whole wheat wrap, spinach, cucumbers (sliced very thin), roasted peppers (of course), a drizzle of EVOO, spices to taste (cumin, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder), and some cheddar cheese. 

Add a touch of fresh basil to the plate, and voila!  The end result is a beautifully healthy and light lunch that not only your tum will enjoy but your eyes will too.  You're doing your body good by indulging in this one. :)

  

Satisfaction!

Did you know...

Bell peppers are packed with several nutrients.  They are a good source of vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6, beta carotene, and folic acid.  Bell peppers also contain a large amount of phytochemicals that have exceptional antioxidant activity. Those phytochemicals include chlorogenic acid, zeaxanthin, and coumeric acid. When comparing the nutrient values of the different bell peppers, studies have shown that red bell peppers have significantly higher levels of nutrients than green.  Red bell peppers also contain lycopene, which is a carotene that helps to protect against cancer and heart disease.  

Possibly due to their vitamin C and beta carotene content, bell peppers have been shown to be protective against cataracts.  Just like other nutrient-dense vegetables, bell peppers contain many different powerful phytochemicals.  Bell peppers have also been shown to prevent blood clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes probably due to their content of substances such as vitamin C, capsaicin, and flavonoids.  Although chili peppers contain a higher amount of those substances, bell peppers should still be promoted especially for individuals with elevated cholesterol levels.

Sources:
Murray , Michael N.D.. The Encyclopedia Of Healing Foods.
New York: Atria Books, 2005.
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention-5 A Day.
National Agricultural Library-USDA. usda.gov.
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia

Article about health benefits:  http://www.everynutrient.com/healthbenefitsofbellpeppers.html