Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut tops from peppers. Remove membrane and seeds. Place in large sauce pan and cover with water. Boil for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. In large skillet brown ground beef, celery and onion. Drain and add rice, salt, pepper, ketchup and tomato. Mix well. Spoon mixture into peppers. Place peppers in ungreased shallow baking pan.
In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, sugar and basil. Mix really well.
Spoon 1/2 of sauce over peppers.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until peppers are tender.
Spoon remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese during last 5 minutes of baking.
