Original Recipes – Hidden Treasures of Italy – Stuffed Peppers

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Joanne Natale Spigonardo

June 16, 2023

When I think of summer, I think of one of my favorite summer dishes. which are the stuffed peppers my Mom would make. We would go to the Jersey farms and get wonderful produce, some of which were the red and green bell peppers. Also, we would get the most luscious tomatoes produced in the US, there is nothing like a ripe Jersey tomato! The only tomato that would beat this, is the San Marzanos of Italy – Italy always takes the prize. We would make fresh marinara sauce with the Jersey tomatoes. The marinara is part of the stuffed peppers recipe.

If you are trying to eliminate meat from your diet, these delicious stuffed peppers are better than any steak imaginable. I can still smell them in my Mom’s kitchen, some of the best memories of my childhood was eating these peppers cold, delicious! They were perfect for summer, hot or cold.

Mom was a master chef like no other. She was tremendously creative and tried different spins on classic recipes, and I think her stuffed peppers are truly unique. So I wanted to share her recipe with you. You basically start out with 6-8 large bell peppers seeded and washed, remove the top – which you can save for vegetable stock – waste not want not. Make your own marinara, its so easy – if you are Italian you really don’t need this recipe, but I do include one below, if you do, and no pressure! Note the recipe for the filling for the peppers below.

1 1/2 cup of whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 cup of white bread diced into small pieces 1/4 inch

1 cup grated parmiggiano

2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

Salt & Pepper to Taste

2 round rolls – set aside

Combine mixture and stuff peppers, use a quarter of a roll to secure the top, fry each pepper in olive oil – brown – when browned – use baking dish and add marinara sauce to the bottom of dish, place peppers in dish and top with marinara – bake covered for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven – uncover and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Let peppers rest for about a half hour before serving. Serve with a side of spaghetti with the rest of the marinara garnish with shaved parmiggiano. Note a fantastic marinara recipe here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/marinara-sauce-recipe2-1950802

Hope you enjoy these peppers, and the wonderful tastes of summer! Summer is right around the corner with so many local farms with delectable produce right on our doorstep. You will never miss the beef, I promise! Make sure to share your Italian heritage through your own wonderful and traditional food. Buon Appetito!

About the Author:

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty.  She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB.  For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.

Published by spigonaj

Joanne Spigonardo Business Development Consultant Specializing in Sustainability, Higher Education, Career Management, and Public Relations In her former roles, Joanne served as Senior Associate Director at the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) at Wharton. Joanne was also part of the Communications Office. She held positions as business manager of the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists and for the Wharton Alumni Magazine. Joanne also served as the media relations coordinator. When with Alitalia Airlines, Joanne worked as a sales representative. Joanne graduated from The University of Pennsylvania with a BA and later graduated from the Wharton Aresty Institute of Executive Education. She has a strong background in development, management, marketing, and Italian language and culture. As a Wharton Mentor, she coached new employees on professional development, and is active in Penn’s Grievance panels. Joanne was on the board of governors for the University Club. Joanne is chair of the Delaware County Penn Alumni Interview Program and oversees alumni volunteers. As an alum of Penn and Wharton, and also a parent of two Penn graduates, she is a strong advocate in promoting Penn. At Wharton IGEL, Joanne had been in partnership with GreenBiz, Sustainable Brands, the Ethical Corporation, Pira Packaging International, Public Relations Society of America, the Green Sports Alliance, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Italian Consulate, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Sonoma County Winegrowers Association, and the Nature Conservancy, as well as, many other NGO and government offices. She has brokered hundreds of corporate relationships for Wharton. Joanne is the author of her book, White Widow, published on Kindle and Amazon. The book is a fictional novel about 19th-20th Century Italian immigrants. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB

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