texas skillet

this is some serious comfort food. it's such a simple recipe, and i like it, but it always surprises me that everyone that has ever had it at our house asks me for the recipe. the best reason this should be my first recipe post is that my step-grandma gave it to me and i've been perfecting it for over ten years.

1 lb. ground beef (i always prefer ground turkey)
1 small onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 (14 oz. - 16 oz.) can tomatoes, I use petite cut
1 (15.5 oz.) can red kidney beans, I use S&W
3/4 cup quick-cooking rice, I use Nishiki Japanese rice
3/4 cup water
1 green bell pepper finely chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, more or less depending on taste

1. brown ground beef and onion. i sprinkle with pepper, salt and garlic powder. strain when done to get rid of most of the grease.

2. in a big skillet mix ground beef with everything else except NOT THE CHEESE. the tomatoes and red kidney beans, just dump in from the can...don't strain them, and the rice needs to be uncooked.

3. cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 - 30 minutes depending on when rice is done...add a tiny bit of water if it gets too dry around 20 minutes.

4. mix in cheese and serve. i don't do this, but the recipe said some people sprinkle it with crushed corn chips...worth a try if you love chips as much as i do.

tips: i usually serve with a green salad and corn bread. this is a great recipe if you have several things you're making and need them to come out at the same time...what i do is get everything done except the 20 minutes of simmering and then just set it on the stove...then when everything else is prepared and 20 minutes from being done i start cooking it. also, i have been using ground turkey lately for all my ground beef recipes...just make sure when you cook it the meat gets nice and broken apart into little bits. another variation is to leave out the bell pepper when you make it and then use the meat mixture as the stuffing for stuffed peppers!