Simple, not messy and a lot healthier than a mini pizza. The key is buy red peppers in bulk, for cheap - watch the sales! Best when you've got 4-6 friends who might eat 2-3 each.

Ingredients:

Six red bell peppers
Two packages of block or shredded mozzarella or mixed pizza cheese
One package of pepperoni slices, cut in small pieces
Olive oil, to coat pepper slices
Fennel, oregano or Italian seasonings, as desired

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In the meantime, cut red peppers into "shells" That's starting at the top of pepper, near the stem, and cutting to the bottom on each of the four rounded sides of the pepper. Each pepper should elicit four shells.

3. Coat lightly in olive oil, place on oil covered baking sheet and insert in oven for 7-10 minutes, open side down, until pepper shells get firm a just a little brown. Do not burn.

4. Dice whatever remaining parts of the pepper exist into small pieces. Mix well with the cut pepperoni and shredded cheese. Add dry seasonings as desired. A pinch of fennel seed adds a nice kick.

5. After peppers are firm and a little brown, remove from oven, turn over and place a generous wad of the cheese mixture in the hull of each pepper so that it spills over onto the foil. Place back in the oven

6. Custom broil, at whatever temp works best for you, until cheese melts and browns slightly. Remove and let stand for a minute or two before serving...

The oil in the pepperoni keeps the mixture from drying out, and the pepper becomes a nice substitute for a pizza crust. It's light, flavorful and it doesn't spoil a main course.

And, of course, it's red!