Lentil-Bulgur Stuffed Peppers

Okay, so this isn't exactly what I did.  What I did came out a little bland, so this is what I WOULD have done, had I known (really for the recipe I just scaled up the quantities of certain flavors/seasonings).  

This dish is great because it fulfills all of newt's Four Ps  for healthful eating. 

1. Simmer the following for about half an hour or until tender:

• 3/4 cup lentils (I used French lentils - smaller in size, dark brown with bluish flecks)
• 3/4 cup bulgur
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups vegetable broth

2. Meanwhile, sautee in olive oil in a medium skillet:

• 1 large onion, chopped pretty small
  
• 2 cloves crushed garlic

3. When they're mostly cooked, add:

• 1 can diced tomatoes with juice
  
• 2 t brown sugar
• salt and red pepper, to taste

4.  Let the sauce simmer and cut 4-6 bell peppers in half (any color works great - green is least expensive, but red, yellow, and orange are prettier, tastier, and possibly even more nutrient-rich), removing the stems and seeds. 


5. Combine cooked lentils/bulgur with tomato sauce in a large mixing bowl and add

• A little less than 8 oz Parmesan cheese - use the rest to sprinkle on the top at the end
  
• 1 T onion powder
• A slosh of Tabasco or other hot sauce
  
• Another clove of crushed garlic
  
• 2 t Worcestershire sauce (not technically vegetarian, but I know of no veg alternative* - as I added it, I said a prayer, "thank you, little anchovies, for giving your lives for this meal")

6. Taste it and add any of the following if you think it needs it:

• red pepper flakes
• salt
• onion or garlic powder
• more Worcestershire sauce
  

7. Finally, add 1 egg to the mixture, spoon into the pepper halves, sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, place in a shallow pan with ~1 cm of water and bake for about an hour at 350 degrees. 

*Although apparently had I simply googled "vegetarian Worcestershire sauce" and I would have found this, which I'll have to prepare to have on hand next time, though I don't use Worcestershire sauce too too much... I have no idea how long that homemade stuff would last.