Lite Stuffed Peppers

     I'm going to start posting recipes on this blog that are lite on calories, fat, and cholesterol. This is the first. You'll need,

• 6 medium green bell peppers
• 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups of lo-sodium tomato juice, divided
• 1-6oz. can tomato paste
• 1 tsp. oregano, divided
• 1/2 tsp. crushed basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, divided
• 1 lb. ground beef, lean
• 1 1/2 cups oats, uncooked, quick
• 1 medium tomato chopped
• 1/4 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped onion

     Preheat oven to 350F. Rinse and cut peppers lengthwise in half and set aside after removing seeds and membranes. In saucepan combine water, 1 cup tomato juice, tomato paste, 1/2 tsp. oregano, basil, and 1/4 tsp. garlic powder. Simmer this for about 13 minutes.

     Combine, beef, oats, 1 cup tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. oregano, and 1/4 tsp. garlic powder with tomato, onion, and carrots. Mix very well.  Fill each pepper half with about 1/3 cup of this meat mixture. Put in glass baking dish and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the peppers. Bake for between 45 and 50 minutes.
Serves 12,  each serving has 175 calories, 9 grams fat, 28mg cholesterol, and 145mg sodium.