HIDDEN VALLEY STUFFED PEPPERS #RSC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a large skillet, cook pork and sausage, crumbling as it cooks until meat is no longer pink and beginning to brown. Drain fat. Add ½ c water, half & half, spinach, ½ package of Hidden Valley Origianl Ranch Seasoning Mix, 2 cloves of the crushed garlic, 1 tsp lemon juice and cook over medium heat 4 minutes. Toss halved tomatoes with remaining garlic clove - set aside. Make Béchamel and stir in cooked macaroni noodles.
• Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a 13 X 9 glass baking dish and swirl to coat. Place pepper halves cut side up in baking dish and brush cavity of peppers w/Olive oil. Spoon meat mixture into the pepper halves, dividing evenly amongst the 8 halves. Top meat mixture with halved cherry tomatoes with garlic and any accumulated juices, dividing evenly between pepper halves. Spoon Béchamel/noodle mixture over tomatoes, again dividing equally. Bake at 375? F for 45 minutes. Top each stuffed pepper half with 1 slice of fresh mozzarella and continue baking until cheese melts 5-10 minutes.
• Béchamel Sauce:.
• • 1 Tbsp butter.
• • 1 Tbsp olive oil.
• • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
• • ¾ c half & half.
• • ½ teaspoons salt.
• • ¼ c parmesan cheese, grated.
• Directions.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted. Add the flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden sandy color, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the half & half in a separate pan until just about to boil. Add the hot milk to the butter mixture, whisking continuously until very smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Season with salt and stir in parmesan; set aside until ready to use.