Pepper Boat Tuna Melts

    I love tuna melts. 

    However, I don't always love having to eat bread to get one. I would rather save my bread consumption for something else like french toast. You cannot have french toast without bread! (and, according to my husband, you cannot eat maple syrup without putting it on something first...so, the bread is for the french toast, and the french toast is for the maple syrup, fyi). But, a tuna melt can be bread less. It just needs a vessel. I have made them before by taking the tuna, plopping it into a mini ramekin, putting cheese on top and melting it, but it wasn't quite the same. Just not quite.  

     So, when your tuna needs a ride, and you don't want to do the usual, what can be done? You put it into a veggie that is shaped like a boat! Well, when it's cut in half, at least. 

     I usually use one half pepper (sometimes both halves....I can eat a lot), but I got some beautiful mini peppers from the grocery store, and thought they would be a fun change. Plus then my 3 year old who is still home with me can have one her size. 

So lovely

 Pepper Boat Tuna Melts (mini edition):

(does 2 mini peppers, or one regular sized pepper)

2 Mini Peppers
Olive Oil
1 tbsp Mayo (you can use more or less, depending on how you usually like it)
1 can of tuna
2 tbsp green onion (or a tsp dried onion)
1-2 pickled pepperoncini (optional)
2-3 Tbsp grated cheese (more or less, depending on how much you like)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degree f. (using a toaster oven makes more sense if you have one. I don't.)

1. Wash the peppers, dry the peppers....(turn the peppers over...? Grade school anyone?)

2. Set the peppers down to see the side they sit on naturally. You don't want to just cut them and realize your boat is a-wobbly. Cut them in half so that you have 4 half peppers. Carefully scrape out the seeds and ribs. 
Set the halves onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or tin foil, drizzle with a little olive oil and add salt and pepper, if desired. 

3. Put the tuna into a medium sized bowl and add the mayo. Mix it up, then add your onion (and pepperoncini, if using). Add whatever other seasoning you like. I add some pepper here.

4. Stuff the tuna mix into each half of the peppers. You should end up using all, or most, of it up. Don't be afraid to use your fingers to push the tuna down, and make sure the peppers are full.

5. Sprinkle cheese on top.

6. Bake for 8-9 minutes until the cheese is looking melty.

7. Turn the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes to make the tops look toasty.

   Let cool a bit before eating. 

Enjoy!

Little pepper boats of yumminess