When I was a kid our grade school served something called Texas Hash, which was a rice and ground beef dish. It didn't have much seasoning to it, so I didn't care much for it. This is a variation on that dish, but it has plenty of seasoning and flavor! This particular recipe makes enough for 2-3 people, but can easily be doubled or tripled.
1/2 cup rice
1 cup water
dash of salt
Add the rice to the water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat as low as possible, cover and allow to cook about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit a few minutes to steam or use 1 1/2 cups leftover rice.
While the rice is cooking, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Peel and chop a small onion, then saute in the hot oil. Allow to brown, then add a pound of ground beef or veal or pork. Fry until the meat is no longer pink. Add 1 tbsp. of chili powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Finally, add a can of diced tomatoes and mix well. Remove from the heat. When the rice is cooked, add to the skillet of meat and tomatoes. Spoon into an 8X8 inch baking dish, then cover with about 1 1/2-2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees about 30-45 minutes, until nicely browned and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
