Helens Stuffed Celery Food

HELEN'S STUFFED CELERY

Steps:

• Arrange celery pieces on a serving platter.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, blue cheese, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, lemon juice and black pepper. Blend well. Stuff each piece of celery with the cheese mixture.

STUFFED CELERY STALKS

Steps:

• To make the onion spread: Drizzle the vegetable oil into a wide pan over high heat. Once hot, add the onion rings and saute for about 2 to 3 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low, and cook slowly for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the rings are nice, soft and a medium-golden brown color, pull them off the heat.
• Season with the kosher salt, black pepper and smoked paprika.
• Put the softened and malleable cream cheese into a bowl. Incorporate the caramelized onions and stir with a spatula to combine. The heat of the onions will help melt the cheese.
• The leftovers can be saved, refrigerated, in an airtight container for about a week and used on bread, burgers, or almost anything.
• To make the blue cheese spread: Place the softened cream cheese into a bowl with the crumbled blue cheese. Using a spatula, mix the cheeses together until they develop a nice and smooth consistency, adding a drizzle of heavy cream if the mixture is too stiff.
• Season the mixture with the Worcestershire, chives, salt and black pepper.
• To make the stuffed celery: Place both spreads into 2 separate heavy plastic bags. Cut off the tip of 1 corner from each bag and use them to pipe the spreads onto the celery stalks.

SCRUMPTIOUS STUFFED CELERY

Steps:

• Spoon sandwich spread evenly into hollow centers of celery stalks; sprinkle with cheese.
• Cut each stalk crosswise into 3 pieces.
• Serve immediately. Or, cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.

STUFFED CELERY WITH OLIVES

Steps:

• Beat the cream cheese and heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in the olives, chives, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe into the celery, then dust with paprika.

CHEDDAR-STUFFED CELERY

Steps:

• Mix the mayo & cheddar together to make a spreadable paste.
• Fill the stalks.
• Cut into serving size pieces.
• Sprinkle with paprika or leave plain & serve.

CREAMY CRANBERRY-STUFFED CELERY

Steps:

• Mix reduced-fat cream cheese and cranberries.
• Press into hollow centers of celery.
• Cut each stalk crosswise into 4 pieces.

SERIOUSLY GOOD STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet and saute the onions over medium-high heat, frequently stirring, until they become translucent and begin to brown.
• Add the minced garlic, diced celery and carrot and cook for another minute or so.
• Add the minced meat, salt and pepper and sweet paprika. Stir fry for 15 minutes, breaking up clumps.
• Once the meat stuffing is done cooking, move from the heat and let it cool down. Mix in cooked rice. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust to taste.
• While the stuffing is cooling down, rinse the peppers, cut off the tops with stems, and remove seeds and membranes.
• Fill each pepper generously with the stuffing mixture.
• Transfer peppers to a slow cooker greased with some olive oil. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or until the peppers are tender to your liking.
• To serve, very gently remove the peppers with a large slotted spoon and place on serving plates. Serve drizzled with pan juices. You can top the peppers with yogurt or sour cream and chopped parsley. Creamy mashed potatoes will make a great side dish if desired.