The house salad has tasty additions like artichoke hearts, sweet red pepper slices and flashes of radicchio, but it also contains tasteless California olives.

Yet, another duck, this time under a basil sauce dotted with peas and sweet red pepper slices, disappointed.

If meat is added, it may be added first, and fried with the onions and pepper slices.

Mixed with the shrimp on a bed of creamy fettuccine were scallions and sweet pepper slices.

Grill or broil the pepper slices, skin side facing the source of heat, until they are blackened.

Another specialty that served two was Hunan Two Flavors, with sauteed shrimp, red pepper slices and onions in a tantalizing sweet-hot chili sauce on one side of the platter.

Add the lemon zest and the hot pepper slices, stir, then add the Napa cabbage and stir-fry until it becomes glossy and is slightly cooked, about 30 seconds.

Like eating hot pepper slices out of the jar (which my husband has been known to do) I like succulent meat but I can't deal with not having crispy skin.

Add the pepper slices, mix well and cook, uncovered, for about 2 minutes.

Snack: Popcorn, whole grain crackers, vegetables with dip, hummus with red pepper slices or even another bowl of that bran cereal can help boost your fiber intake over the top.