Have you ever had stuffed bell peppers? My mom makes them and they are yum. I’d never attempted before, but I finally made them and they were easier than they look.

First you prep the peppers (5-6 medium size)…

Then you drop them into salted, boiling water for 5-6 minutes…

While they are boiling, chop up an onion and a small bell pepper…

Saute the chopped pepper and onion in olive oil with a little garlic for a few minutes. Stir in some salt, pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Add some ground beef or turkey (1 pound), and cook until it is done.

Drain and add two cups of cooked rice. Oops. I forgot to tell you to cook some rice. Cook some rice. Also add 15 ounces of tomato sauce.

Now, stir it all together and stuff it in the peppers.

I added a little tomato paste and cracked black pepper to the top because that is how I roll.

Put a little water to the bottom of the dish, and bake those babies at 350 for 25-35 minutes. Delish.

Moving on. You remember my niece, Kailey? Well, she qualified to take the ACT through Duke’s Talent Identification Program. She made a 27. Wait. What? A 27 on the ACT in the 7th grade? Yep. She did. And I am super proud. Bursting with pride, actually. I told y’all she is smart.

Kailey, please remember me when you are super important and famous. But, please forget how I put your bouncey chair in front of MTV Spring Break when you were just an infant. And how I ran over your foot with my BMW when you were 8. Just know how much I love you, and that you can do anything. Anything.