Italian Stuffed Peppers

I originally did this with a tiny pasta called Frog’s Eyes (Acini di’Pepe), but I can’t get it here so I’ve substituted Israeli couscous which looks, acts and tastes like the ancini.

But who am I to argue with packaging?

You could use ground beef or turkey but we like sausages. Back in the U.S. I would have used Italian sausages.

One learns to adapt.

Italian Stuffed Peppers

Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

8oz (240gr) sausages. removed from casings
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 cup Israeli couscous or Ancini di’Pepe
15oz (450gr) whole, peeled tomatoes, chopped, with juices
1/2 (4oz, 120ml) cup beef stock
3 nicely shaped bell peppers
1/2 cup (2oz, 60gr) shredded mozzarella

Italian Stuffed Peppers

Instructions:

Put a large pot of water on high heat and bring to a boil.
Cut peppers in half the long way and clean. (try to find flat sides before cutting)
When water is boiling drop peppers in and simmer for 7 minutes.
Remove and put into a baking dish.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add paprika, fennel, chili powder and sauté briefly.
Add garlic, celery, onion, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add sausage and sauté until cooked through breaking it up as it cooks.
Add tomatoes, juices, stock, couscous (or pasta) and herbs to skillet. Stir well
Turn heat to low, cover and simmer until couscous is done, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently and adding water if necessary.
When ready spoon mixture into the peppers. Cover with foil and bake for 10 minutes at 400F (200C).
Remove foil and top with cheese.
Bake, uncovered for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

Print Recipe

Speaking of adapting….. Looks like we all are going to be doing a lot of that in the future.

I have avoided making any political statements here. This is, after all a food and ‘life in France’ blog and there are many (likely too many) political pundits in the world.

My two cents – not needed.

On the other hand, even here in the middle of nowhere, France, we do not live in a bubble. We are (sadly) aware of the world and I really feel that to avoid making any comments is akin to sticking my head in the sand.

That’s never been my way.

I’ve been making my opinions known…. just not here.

So here it is….. briefly.

I am pleased to see protesters and marches. As an old protester / marcher myself I’ve been wondering when the younger generations would make their voices heard. I hope that they are energetic yet peaceful.

I am appalled at the violence, by and against the police; by and against everyone else. I am appalled at the hate and intolerance that has risen to the top of the American consciousness. I am most appalled that there seems to be a level of acceptance of the intolerance by some.

The U.S, is a country built on diversity…. How can so many forget their own ancestry to become so intolerant of others?

I’m worried that the things that were fought for / marched for / protested for by my generation are going to be eroded by the current political climate.

Things like equal rights and equal pay and equal treatment…..

I’m worried that people who do not believe in science will be in a position to shape the future.

I’m worried that the masses, all of us, are too influenced by the media to make intelligent decisions for our own future. It’s reflected in the past campaign rhetoric as well as in the results.

News programs should be reporting facts not opinions.

Entertainment programs that render opinions should clearly state that they are not facts.

On that note – have you seen this: Red Feed / Blue Feed ?

It shows, side-by-side, two Facebook feeds: one red; one blue. Depending on your history Facebook determines what you see in your feed. If you liked Trump you saw positive news / opinion pieces about Trump and negative about Hillary. If you liked Hillary you saw the opposite.

I call it ‘preaching to the choir’.

If one is not careful one could end up thinking that the entire world thinks the same way.

Which brings me to what I see as the biggest problem right now and for the future: the inability for two or more people to come together to discuss a difference of opinion in a meaningful way.

Until that happens I will remain very scared for our future……

Last update on November 13, 2016