Beef & Ham Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground cooked ham
• 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup raw white rice or Minute Rice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 6-8 green peppers, halved and seeded

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 quart water
• 2 bay leaves
• 2-3 tablespoons bacon drippings or oil
• 2-3 tablespoons flour

Directions

1. 1

   Combine meat, eggs, rice,onion, salt and pepper; set aside.

2. 2

   Cut peppers in half and seed.

3. 3

   Stuff meat mixture into peppers and drop into sauce.

4. 4

   Sauce: Make a roux with oil and flour and cook over MEDIUM heat until brown but not burnt.

5. 5

   Add 1 small can tomato paste and a quart of water.

6. 6

   Stir with a whisk until sauce bubbles.

7. 7

   Add bay leafs.

8. 8

   Drop peppers into sauce.

9. 9

   Cook, covered, at slow simmer on stovetop for 1-1 1/2 hr, or bake in covered casserole 1- 1/2 hours.

10. 10

    Add water if necessary.

11. 11

    The rice will absorb water.

12. 12

    Peppers should be COVERED with sauce, and peppers are done when rice is cooked.