Ingredients
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1 lb ground beef (lean is great, as you don't need to drain it)
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1 teaspoon vegetable oil (or any oil you like)
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1 1/2 teaspoons salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons no-salt brand salt
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1 medium onion, chopped
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1 dash pepper, to taste
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1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or 1/8 teaspoon garlic granules
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1/8 teaspoon thyme (ground basil also works)
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1/8 teaspoon oregano (ground is best)
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1 -2 bay leaf (try to take them out before baking)
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1 (10 3/4 ounce) can mushroom soup, reduced fat works okay
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1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes (the larger "family size" is good)
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1 cup Minute Rice
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8 slices sharp cheddar cheese, reduced fat is good
Instructions
- Brown meat in oil, add onions and cook until tender.
- Stir in seasonings, soup, tomatoes, and Minute rice.
- Simmer 5 minutes.
- Stir occasionally.
- Spoon into 1 1/2 quart baking dish. (But I only use a cast iron skillet, since it is both oven and stove top friendly. Plus, my Grandmother always made it in a cast iron skillet, and I did learn from her. She was the best cook for comfort foods.).
- Criss cross with cheese and broil until cheese melts.
- Garnish with olives if desired.
- Instead of olives, we sometimes use jalepenos.
- Also, this recipe works well when you cook it in a cast iron skillet- you only dirty one dish that way!