#cooking: stuffed bell peppers

i tried a recipe similar to this, and well it failed... i think the steps or the length of time the peppers should have cooked in the Crockpot was very incorrect... anywho, i decided that i would like to make a good stuffed bell pepper like my friends have made me before - so i tried a new recipe found on good ol' Pinterest.

ingredients:
* 3 bell peppers (cut the tops off and take the seeds out - keep the tops)
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* medium onion - chopped
* 1 large clove of garlic - chopped
* 1lb of ground beef
* 2 tbsp parsley
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/4 tsp pepper
* pinch of red pepper flakes (i've used chili flakes and added to taste for level of spice)
* 1.5c white rice
* 1 cup of tomato sauce
* water

#step 1: pre-heat the oven at 350 degrees F

#step 2: heat the bottom of the bell peppers in microwave with water in a dish for 2-3 minutes. let cool/dry on paper towel during remainder of prep.
why? this helps make the bell peppers tender prior to baking

#step 3: cook rice during prep and set aside

#step 4: heat olive oil, add onion, garlic and chopped up tops of the bell peppers. cook until soft

#step 5: add beef, parsley, salt, pepper, and pepper/chili flakes. cook until meat is browned and crumbled

#step 6: add rice and tomato sauce and stir well.

#step 7: arrange peppers in baking dish and add water to the bottom until about 1/3" thick.

Photo Cred: www.prlog.org

#step 8: stuff peppers with rice and meat mixture until filing forms a slight dome above the edge of the pepper

#step 9: bake for 25-30 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the rice/meat mixture is browning on top.

bon appetit!
<3 awaLL