Bacon Rice Pilaf Stuffed Peppers

This is a new one for me, because I normally put meat in my stuffed peppers. Yesterday I wanted to do something different so I decided to omit the meat and add some bacon. My house smelled so delicious and dinner was to die for.

Here is what you need:

1 1/4 cup rice
2 cups broth (your choice)
5 slices of bacon - cooked
bacon drippings
1/4 chopped yellow pepper
1/4 chopped orange pepper
1/4 chopped red pepper
1/2 chopped onions
1 minced clove garlic
Mushrooms (optional)
1 tsp curry
salt
pepper
You will need the rest of the yellow, orange and red pepper
1/2 cup cheese
bacon to garnish

Directions:

Step 1:  Heat a medium saucepan over med-high heat. Chop 5 slices of bacon and add it to the saucepan. Cook until the bacon is browned. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Pour out all but 1 tbs. of the bacon drippings.

Step 2:  Add 1 chopped onion, a grated clove of garlic, peppers and 1/2 cup chopped  mushrooms to the pan. Saute for 2-3 minutes.

Step 3:  Add 1 cup converted white rice and stir to combine. Cook the rice until lightly toasted, stirring constantly. This will take about 2-3 minutes. Add 1 tsp. curry powder and the reserved bacon (if you have a rice cooker at this point you can just throw everything in it, add the 2 cups of broth and let it do its thing).

Stir over med-high heat for another couple of minutes, until the curry powder is fragrant. Add 2 cups broth of your choice and bring to a boil. Give the rice a good stir, lower the heat to med-low, and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Step 4:  After 20 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and set aside for 5 minutes to let any remaining liquid absorb back into the pilaf. Stir in two sliced green onions and 1 tbs. flat-leaf parsley.

Step 5: Place your peppers facing down in a baking dish, cover them with plastic wrap and place them in the oven for about 3-4 minutes or until they are tender. Let them cool down.

Step 6: Pour some red sauce in the baking dish you are using to bake the peppers. Take each pepper and stuff it with the rice pilaf, place them in the baking dish, sprinkle each one with cheese. Set your oven to 350 degrees. Cover your peppers with aluminum foil making sure that the foil doesn't touch the cheese (it will stick to the foil if it touches it) and bake for 30-40 minutes. 

Step 7: I promise this is the last step!!!! Serve your peppers and garnish with some crispy bacon. I made some black beans as a side but you can make your favorite side. Enjoy!!!!

I made three stuffed peppers but you will have enough rice left to make at least six. Give it a try!!

Hope I'm not forgetting anything and that all the steps make sense. :) Have a bless day.