• 4 small to medium green, red, or yellow sweet peppers
  • 1 cup cooked converted rice
  • 1 15-ounce can chili beans with chili gravy
  • 1 15-ounce can or 2 8-ounce cans no-salt-added tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
  • 3 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (3/4 cup)
  • Chili powder (optional)

Preparation:

1. Remove tops, membranes, and seeds from sweet peppers. Chop enough tops to make 1/3 cup; set aside. If necessary, cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pepper so they sit flat. In a medium bowl stir together rice and undrained beans; spoon into peppers. Pour tomato sauce into the bottom of a 4 1/2-, 5- or 6-quart slow cooker; stir in reserved chopped pepper and onion. Place peppers, filled side up, in cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 6 1/2 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

3. To serve, transfer peppers to serving plate and cut in half, if desired. Spoon tomato sauce over peppers and sprinkle with cheese and, if desired, chili powder.