Stuffed Riceless Peppers

Because we live in northern Michigan and venison is so popular I have made up several recipes using it. My family loves venison. I am sure you could switch it with any meat your family enjoys. 

Ingredients:

1 pound sausage (I use venison/pork sausage), browned

Salt and pepper for browning sausage

2 Bell Peppers

Olive Oil

1 can diced tomatoes, drained (I use Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies)

1 can corn (I use southern style), drained

1 can black bean (drained and washed)

1 8oz can black olives

1 1/2 to 2 cup(s) thick cut parmesan cheese

Sour Cream (optional garnish)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a shallow baking pan with nonstick spray.

I cut peppers in half rather than bowl cut but both ways work. Bake flesh or inside side up sprinked with olive oil for 15 mins. 

While peppers are baking aka softening up; work on making filling.  

Filling: 

Mix browned sausage, tomatoes, corn, black beans and olives in skillet on med heat for 10 to 15 mins while peppers are baking. 

Fill and Bake:

Pull peppers out of oven top/fill peppers with mixture. Adding cheese as you go leaving some to top the peppers before baking. You will have more filling then peppers; I fill dish up all around the peppers. The filling is the best part so bake it all up. 

Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the peppers are tender when pierced with a knife and the cheese is melted and golden. Top with sour cream and enjoy. 

Makes 2 servings (2 halves each or 1 whole pepper) I eat one half with loads of the extra filling topped with sour cream and I like some heat so some franks on top. 

History Traveler: Calumet Italian Hall Disaster

 It was Wednesday, December 24, 1913, in Calumet, Michigan, United States and things in Calumet had been pretty tense leading up to that day as the Copper Mine workers had been striking for 5 months. Seventy-three people were crushed to death in a stampede when someone falsely shouted fire at a Christmas Party. Most of the people killed were striking union members and their families. 

The hall was demolished in October of 1984 leaving just an archway. It has been over hundred years since this horrific event took place yet standing in the remaining archway you can almost hear the cries. 

The person responsible was never known although several speculations were made. 

Several books have been written about this disaster. Ella Reeve Bloor who was present wrote an autobiography. Another book written by a historian Arthur Thurners Rebels on the Range: The Michigan Copper Miners Strike of 1913-1914. Another called Death's Door: The Truth Behind Michigan's Largest Mass Murder by Steve Lehto. A song has also been written called 1913 Massacre by Woody Guthrie.