Recipe: Spanish Rice with Ground Beef (baked)

SPANISH RICE WITH GROUND BEEF

1 cup uncooked regular rice
1 pound ground beef
FOR THE SAUCE:
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 small green bell pepper, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 medium stalks celery, diced (about 1 cup)
2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
4 whole cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)

Cook rice as directed on package. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Place ground beef in 2-quart casserole. Break into small pieces. Bake for 20 minutes. Drain. Set aside. Reduce oven heat to 375 degrees F.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, in large skillet, melt butter. Add onion, green pepper and celery. Cook, covered but stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, bay leaf, cloves and salt. Cover. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove cloves and bay leaf.

Combine rice and sauce with ground beef in casserole.

Bake, uncovered, in 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes.

Makes 6 servings
Source: Cooking in Minnesota to St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 3, 1999