As Promised...

As I mentioned in another post, I've been taking some grief from my friends who are dieting about all of the cookie recipes that I have been posting, so as promised here is a more diet friendly main dish recipe.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin
Salt and black pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large onion, cut into bite-size dice
3 green bell peppers, seeded and cut into bite-size dice
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 teaspoon basil
1 quart chicken stock
1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
1 cup orzo pasta
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano, to pass at table

In a medium sized skillet over medium-high heat brown ground beef and season with salt, black pepper and allspice. Transfer browned ground beef to slow cooker and add garlic, onion, peppers, basil and bay leaf. Stir in chicken stock and tomatoes and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Add pasta and turn crockpot to high 30 minutes before serving. This soup gets very thick, so watch it very carefully the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, stirring often. Serve in shallow bowls with grated cheese.