Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients
•6 green bell peppers
•1 tablespoons butter
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•1/2 cup chopped celery
•1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
•1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
•1 clove garlic, crushed
•1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
•1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
•2 teaspoons salt, divided
•1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
•1 egg, lightly beaten
•1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
•1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef or chuck
•1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain rice
•shredded mild Cheddar cheese, about 1/2 to 3/4 cup, optional

Directions
Cut tops off peppers; remove seeds and membranes. Chop edible part of tops and set aside. Rinse peppers under cold water. Place peppers in a large pot; cover with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain peppers and set aside.
Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Sauté chopped green pepper (from tops), chopped onion, and chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine egg with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add ground beef, cooked rice, and 1 cup of the tomato mixture. Mix well. Stuff peppers with meat mixture and place in a 3-quart baking dish. Pour remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers. Bake at 350° for 55 to 65 minutes. If desired, top stuffed peppers with a little shredded Cheddar cheese just before peppers are done; bake until cheese is melted.
Recipe for stuffed peppers serves 6.

I quite enjoyed this meal, very very filling, easy and good for the winter :)I think it would be good with cheese mixed in with the mixture before putting the mixture in the pepper. I used just pork and it still tasted yummy. You can use just beef, or mix the beef with pork.