In the days before payday when your food is getting low, you need to be inventive to put a homemade meal on the table for your family. Rice is filling and it is healthy for you. This article will give you ideas on how to create healthy one-dish rice casserole meals for your family.
I am one of those cooks who estimate things so I usually do not measure and my directions will show that. My parents taught me long ago this is the way good cooks do it, so I followed their lead.
I get out my big Pyrex baking pan and add enough long grain rice to a depth of an inch or so. I add in chopped onions and peppers. I do not use that minute rice stuff. It just does not do well in these casseroles. On occasion, I have added some cubes of cheese but it is the rare addition.
Next, I will add in some sort of meat in bite-sized pieces. A package of smoked sausage, which is cubed, is a great addition. I have used a pound of raw hamburger shaped into little balls. De-boned chicken, cubed ham or pieces of left over pork chops also work great.
Next, depending on the meat I used, I will add a large can of soup. If I use hamburger, sausage or chicken, cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soups work well for this casserole. If you want a Mexican flair, use some tomato soup or even spaghetti sauce with sausage or beans.
It seems as if this family enjoys the rice casserole made with meatballs, cream of mushroom soup, peppers, onions and cheddar cheese.
Once all my ingredients are all in the pan, I slide it into the over and allow it to cook at 425 degrees for an hour or so. Of course, the cooking time will vary if you use raw meat or leftovers, and fresh vegetable rather than canned. I always use fresh or frozen vegetables due to the salt content in the canned varieties.
You will know when your rice casserole is done because the rice will soak up the soup as it cooks. Simply slice it up and serve it with a slice of bread.