Courtesy of Carla Sinclair

STUFFED PEPPER SOUP RECIPE

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice 3 tablespoons fresh parsley Oil DIRECTIONS:

INGREDIENTS: 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed 1 small white onion, diced 2 bell peppers, deseeded and diced (any color) 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic (or 3 fresh cloves, minced) 28 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce) 4 to 6 cups low-sodium beef broth 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon salt

1. If you're using extra-lean ground beef, chicken or turkey, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil to a large pot. Warm over medium heat. Add the ground meat and sausage until brown, breaking it apart with a spatula. 2. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, mixing frequently to evenly cook the vegetables. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. 3. Add the diced and crushed tomatoes, along with the broth. Mix well, bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender. 4. Add the cooked rice and mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes. 5. Spoon into bowls, top with fresh parsley and serve with toasted bread.

CHOOSING A KITCHEN SINK Whether you’re renovating your kitchen for yourself or for resale, something you’ll need to consider is your sink. Size, material, location – there’s a lot to decide. First off, where you put the sink is a big decision and one that hinges on several factors. If your kitchen reno is more cosmetic and isn’t going to involve any plumbing changes, then the sink will have to stay in its original location. However, if you’re installing new countertops then you can play with the size a bit. If you’re gutting your kitchen then you have a lot more options. Some homeowners love to have their sink in the kitchen island. Others prefer to have it under a window so they can look outside while they do dishes. Whichever you choose, make sure you consider the pros and cons thoroughly first as it isn’t something you can easily change later. Next up – size. While it’s still most common to install a double sink, some homeowners are opting for a single bowl. Proponents of this option say it gives them more room to wash large pots and pans. It also may be an aesthetic choice as a single bowl sink has more of a farmhouse or industrial feel to it. And last of all, but certainly just as important, is the material you choose. Of course, stainless steel is classic and extremely low maintenance, but homeowners are opting for everything from ceramic to copper to granite to cast iron. Again, make sure you research all the pros and cons of each material before choosing your sink. It takes a bit of up front work, but it’s more than worth it in the long run.

FOUR FEBRUARY FACTS If you were born in February, you probably know that your birthstone is an amethyst, but did you know your flower is a primrose? And sure, February has either 28 or 29 days – depending on whether it’s a leap year, but over the centuries the length of February kept changing. At one point, it had as little as 23 days! Also, in the Northern Hemisphere, February is the third month of winter, meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, February is the last month of summer. Lastly, the name February comes from the Latin word “februum”, which means purification. Courtesy of www.thefactsite.com

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