Delicious Spooky Stuffed Peppers

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F, or 190°C. Wash the bell peppers thoroughly. Carefully cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and white membranes from within. With a small, sharp knife, carefully carve a "Jack-o-lantern" face into one side of each bell pepper.
2. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Cook the minced meat, breaking it up with a spoon, until completely browned. Drain any excess fat from the the pan. Cook the chopped onion in the pan until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute or until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and add the undrained diced tomatoes, cooked rice, 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, fresh parsley (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined.
4. Carefully spoon the savoury filling mixture into each carved bell pepper, filling them generously.
5. Place the stuffed bell peppers upright in a baking dish; if desired, add a small amount of water to the bottom to steam the peppers and keep them from drying out.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender when pierced with a fork and the filling is thoroughly heated and bubbling. If you want extra cheesy tops, sprinkle a little more grated cheddar cheese over each pepper during the final 10 minutes of baking.
7. Carefully take the hot peppers out of the oven. Serve hot and enjoy your festive, delicious Spooky Stuffed Peppers!