Stuffed Bell Peppers

I love stuffed bell peppers and I hadn't made them in quite some time.  Peppers have been rather expensive lately so I usually only buy one or two at a time.  Now that they are in season and more affordable I had to make some up.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

1/2 pound mild pork or turkey sausage

1/2 small onion, finely diced

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 cups spaghetti sauce, divided

1 15oz. can Italian style diced tomatoes

2 cups cooked rice

4 large bell peppers

1 cup shredded mozarella

Prepare the peppers by slicing them in half from top to bottom.  Remove stems, seeds and any white parts along the inside of the peppers.  Rinse clean.  Lightly oil a 13 X 9" baking dish, set aside.

Brown sausage with onion, basil and garlic.  Add one cup of the spaghetti sauce and the canned tomatoes.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in rice.  Fill each pepper half with rice mixture and place in baking dish.  Evenly divide remaining spaghetti sauce among the peppers spooning it on top of each pepper.  Top with cheese.

Cover baking dish lightly with a sheet of aluminum foil.  Bake in a preheated 400° oven for 20 minutes, remove foil and continue baking 10 to 15 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese has melted and is lightly brown.  Do not over bake.

Makes 8 servings.

Serve alongside a nice salad if you like.  Leftovers reheat nicely in the microwave.

 

One of our many salad creations.