Fast Food Friday - Southwest Stuffed Peppers

Ok, so you know how I said here, that I was going to post 5 of my favorite easy weekenight recipes for all you busy people who still want to have a home-cooked dinner once in a while?  Then remember how I said here, that I have a big problem with follow through?  Yeah, so here is the 3rd long overdue recipe in that series.  I was never a big fan of traditional stuffed peppers, but I think these flavors work better together and you can use any color bell peppers.

I was never a big fan of traditional stuffed peppers, but I think these flavors work better together and you can use any color bell peppers.  It was inspired by this skinny version, which has great ideas for low fat substitutions. I changed it up a bit, and this is now one of our favorites around here. 

Ingredients:

- 4 large bell peppers hollowed out
-1 lb. ground beef or turkey
- 1 can of Green Giant Steam Fresh Mexican Corn Mix (corn, red pepper, black beans, onion)
- sour cream
- 8 pepper jack slices
- Uncle Ben's Ready Spanish Rice (prepared according to package directions)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut the tops off the peppers and scoop out all the seeds.
3. Boil the hollowed peppers in water for 7-8 minutes.  Put them upside down on paper towel to cool and drain when done boiling.
4. While peppers are boiling, work on the filling. First brown and drain 1 lb. of ground beef.
5.  Turn off the heat and add to the beef 1 can of the mexican corn mix, the spanish rice, and about a cup of sour cream.  Stir until well combined.
6. Place peppers in a baking dish (I just use a 9 x 9 ceramic pan because then they help hold each other up).  Line each pepper "cup" with a slice of pepper jack cheese. 
7. Fill each pepper to the top with the beef mixture.  Top off with another slice of pepper jack cheese (or your favorite shredded cheese)
8. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until cheese on top is bubbly and slightly browned.
9. Serve with an extra dollop of sour cream and possibly some hot sauce for added heat.

**Any leftover filling is great on a tortilla with a little cheese like a taco.  This is a good lunch idea for the next day, or for your tiny picky eaters who might not eat the pepper **