Stuffed Peppers with Mince Bulgarian Way

This is one of the comfort food recipes - stuffing needs preparation, baking time is about an hour - so this characteristic Bulgarian recipe could be best prepared for the weekend lunch or dinner.

Although being one of the most typical recipes of Bulgarian National cuisine, the way of preparing this dish slightly differs between the different families. 

Fresh or dried peppers can be used and it can be boiled in a pot on top of the stove or baked in the oven. I prefer the baked version - it results in dryer peppers with more intense taste.

Crispy Chicken Cracklings, Beer and the Joy of Indian Summer

It is Indian Summer outside, there is no doubt. 
The weather got unexpectedly warm after two weeks of freezing morning temperatures and biting winds, swirling tree leaves in the air. Sunshine came out of the grey clouds some days ago, but people did not have much trust in this change and put on their warm jackets again. But, the sun was even warmer on the next day. And so, mistrustful at first, but more and more relaxed over time, people started taking off the layers of blouses they had under the jackets and the time of T-shirts was back again. And the time of long talks in the gardens and yards, parks and restaurants over a glass of beer or two. 
Which reminds me, that I have a recipe to share. 
Crispy chicken cracklings - something delicious, cheap and easy to make. 

Here is the recipe which celebrates the Indian Summer:

Roasted Hot Peppers

How hot should a hot pepper be? According to me - very, very hot. 

There is the so called Scoville scale method, measuring the amount of the capsaicin - the chemical compound, which irritates our mucous membranes and wakes our pain receptors. 

It is said, the burning sensation, provided by capsaicin is addictive. According to the theory, the pain induced by eating chilies makes our brain produce endorphins, which create a temporary feeling of euphoria. Heart rate increases, metabolism increases, salvation increases - the whole body is involved.

This mild addiction makes me want to have hot peppers with every meal (even with the breakfast sandwich, I admit).

There are many hot peppers varieties in Bulgaria - a real treasure for the lovers of the hot taste. Roasted chilies are served in nearly every restaurant as an appetizer or a spicy addition to the main course. 

The taste of roasted hot peppers is softer than the fresh ones. Peppers for roasting should be fresh and crisp and for this recipe chilies should have soft skins, bearing in mind they are not peeled after roasting.

Baked Goat Cheese with Spicy Tomato Sauce

Fall came out of a sudden this year. 
We were at the sea at the beginning of September and yesterday, less than a month after the vacation, I took the winter jackets out of the wardrobe. 
I hate the all day long rain outside, the freezing temperatures and the cold wind.

There is so much time until next summer... 
On the other hand, I know, final countdowns do not make sense, but next October my Violet will not be with us. 

My beloved first-born child will take her way to the post-parents life and all her suitcases will be transferred to another destination, long way from home.  

Children will never know how tough are some of the decisions their parents make. Parents will never be sure, their children are all right without them. And that is the way it should be. 

But, anyway, I would like to stop time, to take the most of every minute, to open some pictures holding memories of emotions and fun. 

And to post one of Violet's favorite recipes - baked goat cheese with spicy tomato sauce, a healthy, tasty and spicy appetizer, perfect for the long fall evenings.