Place 2 cups water in medium saucepan to boil. Add rice once boiling, stir just to mix. Drop heat to low and cover pan. Set timer for 18 minutes.

Place hamburger in large skillet on medium heat. Break up chunks as it browns. Drain off excess grease and return to skillet.

While meat is browning and rice is cooking, top and clean peppers.

Once meat is drained, add seasonings to meat along with rice.

Stir in jar of spaghetti sauce. Mix everything well. Remove from heat.

Spoon meat mixture into peppers making sure to pack deep into pepper while filling.

They are ready to eat at this point. Or for softer peppers place in a 350 oven until ready to eat (if longer then 1 hour, drop heat to 250)

Fill ovenproof pan with hot water just about half way and put water with pan in the oven

Alternate way to soften peppers...after cleaning them, place in pan of water and simmer while meat/rice are cooking. The peppers will be soft and tear easily, not to mention be really hot!

When ready to serve, gently and carefully place on plate. I usually offer extra spaghetti sauce or salsa, sour cream and shredded cheese for guests to serve themselves.

These are great for make ahead meals. Freeze each pepper in a baggie, warm in microwave.