bonnie's stuffed banana peppers

How To Make bonnie's stuffed banana peppers

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  1

  Wash and remove the tops from the peppers with a sharp knife.
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  2

  Carefully slit the peppers lengthwise and remove the stems, seeds and membrane. Leave the tip closed and the stem end open. Tip: Make sure the peppers lay flat on the counter before you slit them. This will form a pocket for the filling.
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  3

  Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, drop in the peppers and set the timer for 3 minutes. When the time is up, remove the peppers and drain on papper towels, slit side down.
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  4

  Meat: Heat a skillet with one tablespoon of olive oil. Remove the casings from the sausages and break them up with a spoon and add them to the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon A-I sauce, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until meat is done, then drain and remove to a mixing bowl.
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  5

  Cool, then add 1 beaten egg and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of crushed French's fried onions, and mix well. Set aside.
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  6

  Sauce: To make the sauce, add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil to a medium skillet. Saute 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 3 cloves of minced garlic, until transparent. Then add 4 tablespoons fresh basil, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon sugar, mushrooms, tomatoes, tomato sauce. Cook about five more minutes.
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  7

  Add 1/2 cup of the Sauce to the Meat mixture and mix well. Stuff the prepared peppers with the Meat Mixture and place them close together in a baking pan about 2 inches deep and just big enough to hold all the peppers in a single layer.
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  8

  Spoon the Sauce over the peppers.
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  9

  Bake the peppers in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Top with Italian cheese and return to oven just until the cheese melts. About 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Serve. Enjoy!
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  10

  Cook's Tip: Peppers, Sauce and Meat can all be made ahead for a fast dinner. This recipe makes enough stuffing and sauce for 12, six-inch banana peppers.
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