Kittencal's Stuffed Green Bell Peppers

This is my own recipe I have been making for over 30 years, you may use 2 pounds of all ground beef or 1 pound each ground beef and ground pork. Try to purchase extra large firm bell peppers with flatter bottoms so that they will stand straight in the baking dish, and for a softer bell pepper you may par-boil the peppers firstly turn upside down to drain for about 30 minutes or more then stuff as directed (see bottom of the recipe) ----- see my Kittencal's Marinara Pasta Sauce (Vegetarian)

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6  large green bell peppers
• 3 -6  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2  tablespoons  fresh minced garlic
• 1  teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (or use 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional or to taste)
• 1  cup cooked white rice
• 3  teaspoons paprika (or to taste)
•  seasoning  salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 3⁄4 cup  prepared  marinara sauce (use your own favorite marinara sauce, or see my Kittencal's Marinara Pasta Sauce (Vegetarian))
• 1  lb ground beef
• 3⁄4 lb  Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1⁄3 cup  grated parmesan cheese
• 1  large egg, slight beaten
• 2 -3  cups  prepared  marinara sauce
•  shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Grease an 11 x 7-inch baking dish or a casserole dish.
2. Cut off about 1/2-inch off the tops of the peppers, scoop out the seeds from inside.
3. Discard the stems and chop the pepper tops.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Add in onions, garlic, parsley, chopped pepper (from the tops) and dried chili flakes (if using) for about 7-8 minutes.
6. Add in ground beef and Italian sausage meat; cook for about 10 minutes (you do not need to cook the ground beef completely as it will cook more in the oven).
7. Season with seasoning salt (I use about 1 tablespoon) and black pepper then add in grated Parmesan cheese and paprika; cook for 2 minutes more; transfer mixture to a large bowl and cool for about 20 minutes (or more).
8. Mix in the egg, cooked rice and about 3/4 cup marinara sauce; using clean hands mix thoroughly until well combined.
9. Equally fill each pepper cavity with the beef/rice mixture.
10. Place the peppers in prepared baking dish.
11. Drizzle some marinara sauce over each top and then pour the rest of the sauce around each of the peppers, lifting each pepper up so that the sauce will get underneath.
12. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (second-lowest rack, do not bake on lowest oven rack or the bottom of the peppers will scorch).
13. Tent loosely with heavy foil.
14. Cook for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the peppers are very tender (might take longer than 1 hour depending on the size of your peppers).
15. Uncover and sprinkle the tops with grated mozzarella cheese return to oven uncovered and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
16. **NOTE** to speed the cooking process up you can boil the pepper shells for about 6-7 minutes in boiling water, drain upside down on a towel for about 20-30 minutes or more and then fill with mixture.