Sass!

This recipe is the bomb digity! So good that we even made it on The Food Network for Paula’s Best Dishes. This recipe holds a special place in our heart. We would have had no idea of the greatness of this recipe if it were not for our beautiful Mama Hazel. We can just see that little French lady standing in her kitchen in Marksville, Louisiana, chopping the holy trinity, making the rice in her rice cooker and throwing it all together in her big black iron pot. All while we were salivating over each task that she performed. What a masterpiece she created. Later in life our cousin Kurt shared with us his recipe of adding the eggplant which makes it so creamy and delicious. Just another added bonus thanks to Kurt. So it is with great honor that we share this recipe with you.
Note- This recipe makes a lot of dirty rice. Does not have to be stuffed in peppers.

Stuffed Bell Peppers (Eggplant Rice Dressing)

Ingredients:

2 large eggplant, peeled and diced
4 cups water
2 tablespoons bouillon granules
1 pound ground beef
1 pound breakfast sausage
½ pound chicken gizzards and chicken necks
¾ stick butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
5 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
3-5 cloves garlic, chopped
½ cup parsley, chopped
1 cup green onion tops, chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 can chicken broth, or boil chicken/turkey giblets (neck and gizzards) to make broth
2-4 cups uncooked long grain or parboiled white rice
Cajun seasoning
4-6 Bell Peppers (or more if you want to use all of the rice dressing)

Directions:
Add eggplant and granules to boiling water, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. In a separate pot boil the chicken giblets (necks and gizzard) in some of the chopped onion, bell pepper and celery, and cook down to one cup of stock. If you do not want to make your own stock, use 1 can of chicken broth. Drain gizzards and reserve stock. Grind the cooked gizzards and brown the ground beef and sausage in a lightly greased heavy cast iron pot. Pour off the excess grease. Remove the meat and melt the butter and add the chopped onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic and sauté until tender. Return meat to pan and add Worcestershire sauce, and cup/can of broth. Add Cajun seasoning to taste and slowly simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Add the eggplant with the broth, chopped green onion tops and parsley, and simmer for a few minutes longer. Cook 2-3 cups long grain rice or parboiled rice. Mix cooked white rice into heated dressing mix just before serving. Add the rice a bit at a time until you achieve the balance that you like of rice to dressing mix. Remove tops from bell peppers. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Submerge peppers for about 3 minutes. Remove and dry. Scoop rice mixture into peppers. Place peppers in a larege casserole dish. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes.