Stuffed Peppers

When I was in the seventh grade, a new girl came to our school.  Her name was Lisa, and she and I quickly became friends.  One day, she invited me over to her home after school, and I was very happy to accept her invitation.  The next day, she and I walked to her house from school.  We went into her room, and she asked me if I would like to listen to some music.  "Sure!", I replied.  I loved music, still do.  She then proceeded to pull out a record album.   She handed me the album cover and went to put the record on.  Well, what I saw on that record album was one of the most handsome guys I had ever seen.  It was the record from the move Saturday Night Fever.  I had heard about the movie but was not allowed to see it because I was too young.  There in front of me was John Travolta in his white suit.  I was in love!   Then the music began to play.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  I hung on every lyric and melody.  I had never heard anything so wonderful.  I sat mesmerized as Lisa danced around her room, snapping her fingers to the beat, in her high-waisted, bell-bottom jeans and platform shoes.  I thought this was the coolest girl I had ever met.  Just then, her mom came in and asked if I would like to stay for dinner.  Wow, cute guy pictures, awesome music, and they are going to feed me too; I wondered if they could adopt me.  I thanked her mom and said I would love to eat dinner over their house.  After all, my parents wouldn't be looking for me until the street lights came on.  I had some time.  So we went into her kitchen.  I sat down at their lime-green formica table.  Her mother placed a plate of food in front of me.  I looked down at the plate, and what I saw...well let's just say it wasn't pretty.  It looked like a piece of a leather shoe covered in onions.  Let me first tell you that I was probably one of the pickiest kids ever.  There were very few things I did like, and onions or mystery meat was not one of them.  A voice was screaming in my head, "what the heck is that?"   The mom must have noticed the horrified look on my face and said,  "it is liver dear...haven't you ever had liver?"  "LIVER!!", screamed the voice in my head louder.  I quickly made up some lame excuse about remembering my mother saying I had to come home early and pretty much ran out.  I know.. when I think back now, I do feel bad.  Needless to say, I was never invited over again.  I did beg my parents to buy me that album, though, which I played over and over and over.  I did have friends whose houses I did love to eat over surprisingly.  And there was one in particular whose mom's cooking I loved.  That is where I got this recipe.  My friend's mom made these stuffed peppers all the time and I loved them, still do.  I actually asked her for the recipe years and years ago and have been making them ever since.  I guess I was foodie even back then.  Well, I would like to share this tasty recipe with you.

To make them, first clean and cut peppers in half.  Place in a large pot of  salted boiling water. 

Boil peppers for five minutes.  Use a slotted spoon to remove peppers to a large baking dish.  Set aside. 

In a large saucepan that has a cover, cook hamburger and onion until hamburg is browned.

 Drain excess drippings if needed.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of oregano and some salt and pepper.  mix well.  Add tomatoes.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Add rice and cover for 10 minutes.   Meanwhile melt butter in a separate saucepan and add breadcrumbs.  Mix well. 

Stuff peppers with hamburger/rice mixture and top with breadcrumbs.  Cover with foil.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Then remove foil and cover for another 5 minutes. 

Stuffed Peppers

5 Large green peppers
1 Pound hamburger
1 Small onion, chopped
1/2 Teaspoon of oregano
Salt and pepper
1 16 oz can of crushed tomatoes (can use diced also)
1 Cup of instant rice (uncooked)
1 Stick of butter
1 Cup of bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill a large pot with water.  Add some salt.  Bring to a boil.

Clean and cut peppers in half and place in a pot of boiling water for five minutes.  Then remove with a slotted spoon to a large baking dish, allowing some of the water from the peppers to drip into the baking dish.   In a large saucepan that has a lid, cook hamburger and onion until  hamburger is brown.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add oregano.  Add tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add rice.  Mix well.  Cover.  Cook on low for ten minutes.  Allow to cool slightly.  Melt butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave.  Add breadcrumbs and mix well.   Stuff the peppers with the hamburg mixtue and then top with the breadcrumbs.  Cover with tinfoil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake another five minutes.  Enjoy!