Ingredients:

6 large red or yellow bell peppers
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves minced garlic
2-3 tbs olive oil
1/2 lb ground veal
1/2 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 cup minced parsley
1 cup panko crumbs
1 cup short grain rice
1/2 tsp smoked paprika, or more to taste
1/2 tsp cinnamon, or more to taste
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 cups tomato sauce (recipe follows)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.

Wash, dry and then cut the tops off of the peppers. Hollow out the peppers, removing all ribs and seeds. Set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in the olive oil and add the onions.  Lower heat to medium and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic and saute a minute or two more.  Set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients, except tomato sauce, and mix well.

Using a spoon or scoop, stuff the peppers with the filling. Save the tops for later.  Place the stuffed peppers in a roasting pan or large casserole dish and top with tomato sauce.  Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 1 hour.  Then, remove the foil and put the tops on the peppers.  Bake 20-30 minutes more, until peppers begin to get browned and the sauce is nice and bubbly. 

Serve.

Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

2-3 tbs olive oil
1 large sweet onion, diced
1 clove minced garlic
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tbs fresh oregano leaves
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato soup
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2-1 tsp smoked paprika to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add olive oil.  Add onions and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic, thyme and oregano, and saute a minute or two more. 

Add crushed tomatoes, soup and water and mix well to combine. Stir in cinnamon stick and smoked paprika.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat so that sauce is gently simmering.  Simmer, covered for about 20-25 minutes. Uncover and simmer another 15-20 minutes, until sauce starts to thicken. 

Remove cinnamon stick, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!