Bob's Stuffed Banana Peppers

Ingredients

• 8 bananas peppers
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 0.5 cups chopped onion
• 0.5 cups chopped celery
• 1 , 28 ounce
• 1 , 8 ounce
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 2.5 teaspoons salt , divided or to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoons ground black pepper , divided
• 0.5 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound hot Italian sausage
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 1.5 cups bread crumbs

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut off the tops of peppers. Remove ribs and seeds; rinse peppers. Chop edible portion of the tops; set aside.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

3. 3

   Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Sauté reserved chopped pepper, onion, and celery in hot butter until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and garlic. Season with 1 ½ teaspoons salt, basil, oregano, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

4. 4

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

5. 5

   Meanwhile, combine Parmesan cheese, egg, Worcestershire sauce, 1 remaining teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Mix in hot sausage, mild sausage, bread crumbs, and 1 cup tomato sauce mixture until well combined.

6. 6

   Fill each pepper with sausage mixture using a piping bag or sausage stuffer. Place in a 3-quart casserole dish; pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.

7. 7

   Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and sausage is cooked through, about 1 hour.