Sausage Stuffed Banana Peppers

Pa. Hiker's Note:

I wish I could say I developed this recipe on my own, but truth be said it came from my son's school. Two fantastic chefs (John & Cindy) from the Western Pa. School for Blind Children gave me this, and many other recipes. It's a favorite among the kids there who love spicy foods!

• Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

• 10 large banana peppers (Anaheims are best)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 lb hot Italian sausage
• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
• 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Cut off tops of peppers, and remove stuff inside& seeds.
2. Chop edible portions of tops; set aside.
3. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
4. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes.
5. Drain and set aside.
6. Heat butter in a medium skillet.
7. Sauté reserved chopped pepper, onion and celery until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic.
9. Season with basil, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
10. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
11. Preheat oven to 350°F.
12. In a large mixing bowl, combine egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan.
13. Mix in hot sausage, mild sausage, bread crumbs and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture.
14. Fill each pepper with the meat mixture.
15. Place in a 3-quart casserole dish, and pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.
16. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour.

Reviews

[oldschoolchef]

Great recipe, this one is a keeper.

[princessmommie]

Perfecto! I have been searching a long time for this recipe and very hesitant to make. This recipe took me back to my childhood, eating christmas dinner at my aunt's house. Will be making this all the time. I had a lot of extra sausage mixture so I just made meatballs with it and simmered it in the sauce as well. One change I did make was to use only sweet italian sausage. The heat from the chopped peppers and the cayenne pepper blended nicely with the sausage mixture and created a nice heat. Though my 9 & 11 year boys, who like spicy food, did claim that it was a little spicy, but happily ate the meatballs.