Italian Stuffed Peppers

VIDEO LINK:  https://youtu.be/pn-P64Dcc-s

Yields: 4-6 Servings      Prep time: 20 minutes      Cook time: 30 minutes

Marinara Ingredients: 

• 2 (28 oz.) cans of Plum Tomatoes 

• ½ cup of Olive Oil 

• 8 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)

• 8-10 Fresh Basil Leaves 

• 2 tsp. of Salt 

• ½ tsp. of Black Pepper 

Instructions:

1. Puree plum tomatoes in a blender.
2. Add garlic, olive oil to a pot set on medium-high heat  and fry until light golden brown.
3. Add basil, black pepper, tomato and salt. 
4. Cook for 20 minutes on med-high heat frequently stirring.

1. Ingredients: 
2. • 1 lbs. of ground beef  (chuck) 
3. • 6 bell peppers (assorted colors) 
4. • 2 cups of cooked white rice 
5. • 2 cups of shredded mozzarella 
6. • 4 tbsp. of olive oil 
7. • 1 cup of diced yellow onion 
8. • 1 dried Bay leaf 
9. • 6 cups of Marinara Sauce (Page 10) (reserve 2 cups for topping) 
10. • 2 tbsp. of chopped Italian parsley 
11. • ½ cup of Parmesan Cheese 
12. • 1 tsp. of salt 
13. • ¼ tsp. of black pepper

Instructions: 

1. Sauté Vegetables: In a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. 

2. Cook Ground Beef: Add ground beef, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned. 

3. Drain Excess Fat: Drain off any excess grease from the skillet. 

4. Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked beef to the skillet. Stir in cooked rice, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and 4 cups of marinara sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. 

5. Stuff Peppers: Carefully spoon the beef mixture into the prepared bell peppers. 

6. Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake the stuffed peppers for 30 minutes. 

7. Remove from Oven: Top each stuffed pepper with a spoonful of additional marinara sauce and a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese. 

8. Continue Baking: Return to oven for 15 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. ● 9. Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. .