Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

Ground Beef
3-4 bell peppers
1 onion, diced
1 lg stalk celery, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tomatoes, diced
Optional veggies: diced zuchinni, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, fresh Italian herbs, etc.
splash of lemon juice
2 Tbsp dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, Italian seasoning)
Salt & pepper
3/4 cup wild rice, brown/white rice, or quinoa
1 cup tomato sauce
Optional: 1 cup shredded cheese of choice

Directions

1 - Cook rice or quinoa while preparing the filling.

2 - Cook ground beef and onions over medium heat. Add in garlic after meat is almost cooked through.

3 - Add celery, tomato, lemon juice, seasonings, and other desired veggies. After a few minutes, add tomato sauce. Simmer for 1-15 minutes until everything is melded together.

4 - Stir in cooked rice. Adjust seasonings, if needed. Mix in shredded cheese, saving some to top off.

5 - This is the fun part! Stuff the peppers with the filling and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes at 375° or until peppers have softened to desired tenderness.

NOTE: The filling is also excellent when used for topping rice, quinoa, or greens ~ without filling the peppers. If you prepare it this way, you can slice the peppers and cook them with the other veggies to become part of the filling! Either way, it's a delicious win-win and a wonderfully filling meal!