Chapter 16 - For Whom the Bell . . . Pepper Tolls

Chapter Sixteen For Whom The Bell . . . Pepper Tolls For a special dinner which can simmer on your stove in a late afternoon, bake or leave unattended in the crock pot, stuffed peppers may be your answer. One-Pot Stuffed Pepper Meal Six green, bell peppers Approximately 1 ½ pounds ground beef 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced ½ cup uncooked rice 2 cups canned, diced tomatoes with liquid 2 teaspoons paprika 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground pepper 2 eggs 3-4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered 5 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks Wash and cut the tops off the peppers, about a quarter of the way down. Core and set aside. Combine all the ingredients except for the tomatoes and vegetables. Mix thoroughly. Stuff each pepper with meat mixture. For the crock pot, place vegetables on the bottom and arrange the peppers on the top. You know the capacity of your appliance so may have to make adjustments to the recipe to fit your needs, crock pot and family! Pour over the tomatoes and liquid and cook either on low or high, depending on when dinner is served. When you want a cozy afternoon and like to smell something savory bubbling away on the stove, arrange the vegetables and peppers in a heavy-bottomed pot the same way. Turn the burner on simmer and allow approximately two hours for cooking. Sometimes it is better to have something to throw in the oven, out of the way of the stove and working surfaces in your kitchen. The vegetables and peppers can be placed in either an oblong baking pan or in a roasting pan. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one and a half hours. The oven method is roomier, especially if you are feeding company, too. As always, there can be variations to the recipe. After you have done this recipe once or twice, I know your taste buds will start thinking about your own ideas of what would taste good. Italian Bell Peppers need a dash or two of basil and oregano in the tomatoes. After the peppers have been settled in place, a heavy grating of Parmesan or Romano cheese will complete the mood. Rainbow Bell Peppers are either for a very special occasion or when the peppers are reasonably priced. Alternate your stuffed peppers between red, green and yellow ones. Nesting each serving on a bed of hot rice along side the other vegetables will make it look like you spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Greek Bell Peppers only need the addition of a ½ cup of crumbled Feta cheese to the meat mixture and a half cup of red wine to the tomatoes.