HIDDEN VALLEY STUFFED PEPPERS #RSC

Hidden Valley Stuffed Peppers #RSC image

Ready, Set, Cook! Hidden Valley Contest Entry. These Italian inspired peppers are a hit with family and friends. A lovely dish when entertaining during the holiday season.

Provided by Boyce Anne

Categories Weeknight

Time 1h20m

Yield 8 pepper halves, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

4 large red bell peppers, seeded, deveined, and halved lengthwise
1/2 lb ground pork
2 sweet Italian sausage links, casings removed
0.5 (1 ounce) package Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning Mix
1 (16 ounce) bag frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup macaroni noodles, cooked according to package directions to firm stage
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a large skillet, cook pork and sausage, crumbling as it cooks until meat is no longer pink and beginning to brown. Drain fat. Add ½ c water, half & half, spinach, ½ package of Hidden Valley Origianl Ranch Seasoning Mix, 2 cloves of the crushed garlic, 1 tsp lemon juice and cook over medium heat 4 minutes. Toss halved tomatoes with remaining garlic clove - set aside. Make Béchamel and stir in cooked macaroni noodles.
Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a 13 X 9 glass baking dish and swirl to coat. Place pepper halves cut side up in baking dish and brush cavity of peppers w/Olive oil. Spoon meat mixture into the pepper halves, dividing evenly amongst the 8 halves. Top meat mixture with halved cherry tomatoes with garlic and any accumulated juices, dividing evenly between pepper halves. Spoon Béchamel/noodle mixture over tomatoes, again dividing equally. Bake at 375? F for 45 minutes. Top each stuffed pepper half with 1 slice of fresh mozzarella and continue baking until cheese melts 5-10 minutes.
Béchamel Sauce:.
• 1 Tbsp butter.
• 1 Tbsp olive oil.
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
• ¾ c half & half.
• ½ teaspoons salt.
• ¼ c parmesan cheese, grated.
Directions.
In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted. Add the flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden sandy color, about 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the half & half in a separate pan until just about to boil. Add the hot milk to the butter mixture, whisking continuously until very smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Season with salt and stir in parmesan; set aside until ready to use.