#451 - Stuffed Peppers

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 pounds hamburger OR ground chuck
1 cup Minute Rice
1 chopped medium onion
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
5 whole peppers (red or green)
pasta sauce
1 small bag shredded mozzarella cheese

Wash peppers, cut in half horizontally and remove seeds. In boiling water, cook the peppers 5-10 minutes until they begin to soften. Rinse the peppers with cold water and place them open side down on paper towels to drain. In a bowl, add meat, raw rice, chopped onion, salt and pepper--use your hands to mix well. Stuff each pepper with the meat mixture. Place peppers in a baking dish (meat side up). Pour some pasta sauce over the tops of the meat on the peppers. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When they're almost done, remove from oven, sprinkle tops with shredded mozzarella cheese and return to oven until cheese is melted.