Pick a Pepper
This week in the CSA bag was huge bell peppers. Peppers are usually classified as bell, also known as sweet (mild) or pungent (hot). They are available in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Depending on the variety of pepper the color can be green, red, orange, yellow, and more rarely, ivory, brown, white, lavender and dark purple. Most typically, unripe bell peppers are green and most red peppers are ripened green peppers. Green bell peppers are less sweet and more bitter tasting than yellow, orange and red peppers. Red peppers are the sweetest tasting. Bell peppers are high in vitamins A and C. Red peppers are the highest in vitamin C and contain the antioxidant lycopene.
Often times when I teach kids about vegetables I’ll bring slices of red, yellow and green peppers. I offer Ranch dressing for them to dip it in; this really motivates the kids to try it. Many kids have never tried red or yellow peppers and are surprised by how much they like them.
I include bell peppers into many of my family’s favorite meals: pizza, stir fry, fajitas, omelets, casseroles, stuffed bell peppers, salads, and salsa.
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 3 bell peppers (cut off the stem and take out the seeds)
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ½ small onion, chopped
- mushrooms, wiped clean with damp cloth, sliced
- marinara sauce
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Cook rice according to package directions.
- While rice is cooking, brown the ground beef and chopped onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- While beef is cooking, clean and slice mushrooms. Note: Mushrooms should be cleaned with a damp cloth, not under running water as they absorb water.
- After beef is cooked, remove from pan and add mushrooms to pan. Add olive or canola oil to pan if needed to saute mushrooms.
- While mushrooms are cooking, assemble the peppers in a greased baking dish.
- Once all items are cooked, stir together rice, meat and mushrooms. Spoon mixture into peppers. Cover with marinara sauce. Pour a small amount of water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle with your Parmesan cheese if desired. Return to oven to melt the cheese.
