Stuffed Bell Peppers
Shopping List
Bell peppers, (mix of green, red or yellow) halved lengthwise, veins & seeds removed: 4 Medium
HOT ITALIAN TURKEY SAUSAGE, casings removed: 1 Pound
chopped onions: 1/2 Cup
Peeled and finely grated carrots: 1/2 Cup
Minced fresh garlic: 1/2 Teaspoon
No-Salt Added tomato sauce: 1 (8-Ounce)
Cooked rice: 1 Cup
Dried oregano leaves: 2 Teaspoons
Black pepper: 1/2 Teaspoon
Shredded Parmesan cheese: 8 Teaspoons
Directions:
Blanch peppers in boiling water for 3 minutes. Plunge peppers into cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.
In a large, heavy nonstick skillet, over medium heat, cook sausage, breaking sausage into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink.
Drain all but 1/2 teaspoon pan drippings from pan. Add onions and carrots and sauté just until vegetables are soft. Add garlic and cook only until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce, cooked rice, oregano and black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly.
Spray a 13 X 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place pepper halves, cut side-up, in dish. Portion sausage mixture into the pepper halves
Bake, covered, in a preheated 350 degree F oven, for 25 minutes. Remove cover and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon Parmesan. Return to oven, uncovered, and bake 5 more minutes or until sausage mixture reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.