Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

Tick items off as you go.

• 4 large orange bell peppers, tops cut off and reserved
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the tops from the peppers and pull out the seeds and ribs.
2. With the tip of a small paring knife, carve a simple triangle-eyed jack-o'-lantern face into one side of each pepper. Keep the cuts small — big holes let the filling spill.
3. Brown the beef with the onion over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, paprika, and cumin and cook one full minute.
4. Stir in the rice and tomato sauce, season well, and fold in half the cheese.
5. Stand the peppers in a baking dish, fill them, and scatter the rest of the cheese over the openings. Set the reserved tops back on as lids.
6. Cover loosely with foil and bake 35 minutes, then uncover for 10 more until the peppers are tender and the faces glow.