Mexican Stuffed Peppers

What's the weather where you are?  This weekend has been gorgeous, but it was really cold at the beginning of the week with wintry mix and I was craving something warm and cozy!  I had a bunch of peppers in the fridge, so I started searching for stuffed peppers recipes.  I had a problem though...my husband does not like tomatoes or tomato sauce, so I couldn't go the traditional stuffed pepper route.  I finally found a recipe for Mexican Stuffed Peppers and we both thought they were delicious, so I wanted to share!

Ingredients:
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 packet taco seasoning
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 cup white rice
* 1 cup water or chicken broth
* 1 1/2 cups salsa
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 3 large green bell peppers, tops and seeds removed
* 1 8oz package shredded cheese

Directions:
1. Cook the white rice, clean and prepare green bell peppers (removing seeds and tops), preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Drain grease out.

3. Stir 3/4 cup of water and taco seasoning into the ground beef, simmering until the liquid has evaporated (about 5 minutes).

4. In a separate skillet, heat vegetable oil and cook the rice until golden brown- about 5 minutes.  (I used minute rice, so mine never got brown.)  Add to the rice 1 cup of water (or chicken broth), salsa, chopped onion and garlic.  Bring it all to a boil and then lower heat and let it simmer (covered) about 15 minutes.

5. Stir the ground beef mixture and the rice mixture together.

6. Sprinkle cheese in the bottom of your green bell peppers.  Then add a layer of ground beef mixture, another layer of cheese and top with more ground beef mixture.  Arrange stuffed peppers in a 9x9-inch dish.  Sprinkle cheese on top of everything.

7. Bake in the oven until peppers are tender and cheese is lightly brown and crispy (about 30 minutes).

8. Enjoy!  Because you will!  These are delicious and I felt like we were eating something healthy that was equally tasty!