Pepper Soup (green bell peppers)

Ingredients

1 cup onion, chopped

¼ cup celery, chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced

2 cups green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable or extra virgin olive oil

½ pound lean ground beef

1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

½ cup tomato juice

¼ cup uncooked white rice

3 cups water

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

2 teaspoons white sugar

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1. In a Dutch oven, sauté onion, celery, garlic, and green pepper in oil until just tender. Stir beef into vegetables; cook until beef is browned. Stir in cooked rice.

2. Add tomatoes, juice, water, parsley, sugar, salt, and pepper to the cooked beef mixture. Cover, and simmer 45 minutes or until rice is done. Adjust liquid if necessary. Stir in cinnamon. Taste for seasoning. Garnish each serving with chopped parsley.

Serves 4