Stuffed Bell Peppers

Hi, everyone!

We are heading to Maryland this weekend to visit my parents (!!!) and so Charles can do some work for his company, so I don't know how much I'll really be around after Sunday.

I'm getting up what recipes I have at my disposal for your viewing/cooking pleasure.

And, see what happens?

I started this post two days ago and got busy. Whoops.

Stuffed bell peppers are one of my favorite go-to meals every week. Really simple, really tasty, and hearty! You can easily switch up flavors and go from southwest to Italian to Mediterranean to whatever. Have fun! Taste as you go!

Ingredients:

1 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow or orange bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, diced small (obviously, adjust this to your tastes)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1-2 cups black beans (or pinto or kidney, whatever you prefer), depending on how much you like beans (cooked, not dry)
2 cups canned tomatoes (if whole, chop them up a bit)
1 T. chili powder1 T. cumin
2 t. oregano
Salt & pepper to taste
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
4 bell peppers (green or other is your choice), tops sliced off and membranes/seeds removed

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a casserole dish big enough to place the standing, hollowed-out bell peppers in.


Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add onions and peppers and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in beans, tomatoes, and spices and allow to cook until most of the liquid has cooked off.


Once cooked to your liking, spoon filling into the bell peppers. If you have extra, save it! Or spread it around the peppers in the pan. Top with cheese and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned and bubbly on top! Enjoy!


**I was cooking for two, hence only two peppers.**

For an Italian flair, use more tomato, cut out the beans, use oregano and basil, and stir in some parmesan to the filling, topping everything with mozzarella. Yum yum! The possibilities are really endless with these.