Festive Pepper Bundles Recipes

BEST EVER EASY STUFFED PEPPERS (5 INGREDIENTS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a large baking dish and arrange bell peppers standing up. (If they want to tip over you can always cut off the very bottom 1/8 of an inch or so to flatten them out and help them stand!) Transfer to preheated oven and allow to cook for 10-15 minutes until tender. (Move ahead with Step 2 while peppers are baking!)
• In a large pan over medium-high heat, cook sausage for 5-6 minutes, breaking apart with a spatula or spoon as it cooks, until well browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer sausage to a platter, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
• Add rice, water, and tomatoes to the pan, give it a good stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce to LOW, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir sausage and 1/2 cup of the cheese into the pan. Spoon mixture into the baked peppers and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with green onions or cilantro if desired and serve.

THE BEST STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• If your peppers don't sit upright on your cutting board, trim about 1/8-inch off the bottoms to even them out so they can stand without falling over. Cut the top off each pepper about 1/2-inch down. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the remaining flesh from the tops. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membranes as you can. Place the peppers in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high power for 12 minutes. Carefully uncover and let them sit until ready to assemble.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the beef in an even layer and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps with the back of a spoon and scraping up any browned bits from the pan until the meat is lightly browned all over, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the browned meat to a large bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and add the reserved chopped peppers, onions, garlic, thyme, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until falling apart and much of the liquid has evaporated, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly until brick red colored, about 1 minute. Stir in the wine and cook until the mixture is reduced, very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Transfer to the bowl with the beef. Stir in the rice until completely combined. (The mixture will be wet.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Place the peppers cut-side up in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Spoon the filling into the peppers, gently pressing it in with the back of a spoon. Be careful not to overstuff and split the sides of the peppers. Bake for 15 minutes. Then top with the cheese and continue baking until the filling is heated through and the cheese is browned in spots, 10 to 12 minutes.

CAMPFIRE BUNDLES

Steps:

• Place vegetables on three double thicknesses of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Top each with sausage, and dot with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold foil around each mixture; seal tightly. , Grill, covered, over medium heat 30 minutes. Turn and grill until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes longer. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape.

FESTIVE PEPPER BUNDLES

Steps:

• Place chives in shallow dish. Pour enough boiling water over chives just to cover; let stand 10 seconds so chives become pliable. Drain well; set aside.
• Cut each pepper into eighteen 3x1/4-inch strips (there may be extra strips; reserve for another use). To form each bundle, place 3 pepper strips side by side on center of chive. Top with 3 more pepper strips (alternate colors if desired). Tie chive around bundle. Repeat with remaining pepper strips and chives.
• Heat all Lemon-Pepper Butter ingredients until butter is melted, stirring occasionally; set aside.
• Carefully transfer bundles to 10-inch nonstick skillet; add water. Heat to boiling; boil about 1 minute or until crisp-tender. Remove bundles to small serving plate, using slotted spoon or pancake turner; drizzle with Lemon-Pepper Butter. Serve immediately.