Stuffed Peppers.

Yesterday I spent the day feeling like one of the little man's used tissues, and today I woke up feeling much much worse. I don't know what it is about feeling sick but at that time I am always craving some serious comfort food. Last night the only cure for my stuffed up nose was some stuffed peppers. Since the Husband is a vegetarian I had to leave out the best part, but in the end they still ended up pretty damn good if I do say so myself. For those of you who are carnivores I'm sure that some sausage could easily be added to the following recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 box rice pilaf (I prefer brown rice pilaf)
• 3 Tbs butter (or olive oil)
• 1/2 cup pignoli (pine nuts)
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• salt
• black pepper, freshly ground
• 4 large red or green bell peppers
• 1/4 cup sharp provolone cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 jar of marinara sauce.

Directions

1. Cook the rice according to the directions.
2. While the rice is cooking, melt the butter in a small frying pan, over a medium heat. Add in pine nuts, celery, and onion. Cook until the onion is just starting to turn gold. Stir into the rice and mix well.
3. Add in eggs, stirring quickly after each addition.
4. Add in the remaining spices and seasonings.
5. Remove from heat and mix in the provolone cheese.
6. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.
7. Boil the peppers for 5 minutes.
8. Place open-end-up in a greased baking dish. Spoon mixture into the peppers (do not over fill).
9. Evenly pour the marinara sauce over the peppers.
10. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top of the peppers.
11. Add 1/2 cup of hot water to bottom of dish.
12. Bake at 400F for 25 minutes.

Here is the little man helping me cook.

The final rice mixture. It smelled delicious.

"Stuffing" the peppers. I did not boil them first as the recipe did not call for it. They peppers came out way to firm so I have accounted for this up in the directions.

The final product and the perfect cure!