Stuffed Peppers

Preheat the oven Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Prepare the bell peppers Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Place the peppers in a baking dish and set aside.

Cook the filling In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain off any excess fat.

Add the filling ingredients Stir in the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until heated through.

Prepare the sauce In a separate saucepan, combine the tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until heated through.

Add the sauce Pour the sauce over the stuffed peppers in the baking dish.

Bake the stuffed peppers Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.

Finish the dish Remove the foil and sprinkle the tops of the peppers with additional grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Serve and enjoy Serve the stuffed peppers hot and enjoy!