Hot Sausage Stuffed Banana Peppers

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Ingredients

1. 6 - 8 Banana or Hot Peppers
2. 1 1/2 lbs hot sausage
3. 1 lb mild sausage
4. 1/2 c diced onion
5. 1/4 c green peppers, chopped small
6. 1 t dried basil
7. 1 t dried oregano
8. 1/2 t salt
9. 1/2 t pepper
10. 2 1/2 c shredded mozzarella
11. 1 egg
12. 1/2 - 3/4 c Panko bread crumbs
13. 3 - 3 1/2 c marinara Sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Wearing plastic gloves, take a knife and chop off the top of the peppers and run the knife on the top about 1/4 in from the tip to the top of the pepper. Do not split them in half; the pepper should be whole with a slit so it can be stuffed. Remove the rib and seeds; discard.
3. In a separate bowl, add the hot sausage, mild sausage, onion, green pepper, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, 3/4 c mozzarella cheese, egg, bread crumbs (start with a 1/2 cup) and 1/2 cup marinara sauce.
4. Gently mix to incorporate. If the mixture it too wet add the rest of the bread crumbs. You want the mixture more on the moist side. It should be semi-loose in structure.
5. Gently open up the pepper and stuff with the meat mixture slightly mounding.
6. Place each filled pepper in a 9x13 baking dish.
7. Add the marinara sauce over top of the peppers – use at least 1 1/2 cups. Add more if desired.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 45-60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the sausage reads 160-165F.
9. Remove foil and top with remaining cheese.
10. Bake uncovered for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.