Menu Monday

I didn't do a recipe for last Monday because we were suppose to be out of town and then just got really busy! so here is this weeks Menu Monday


This weeks dish has been one of my favorites for a while! It is so simple, yet packed with so much flavor. And the best part of all is that almost all of the ingredients are things I always have on hand. I don't know if you are like me, but I keep canned veggies and boxes of rice and pasta on hand... so this is one you can throw together if you needed to :)

BAKED RICE DISH
4 Servings
15 mins prep 15-20 cook time

1 lb Ground Turkey
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cups cooked long grain rice
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced rip olives, drained
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 tspns chili powder
1 tspn garlic powder
1/2 tspn salt
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded chd. cheese, divided
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tspn butter, melted

IN a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over med. heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the rice, tomat, corn, olives, bacon, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Bring to a boil; remove from the heat, add 1 cup of cheese. stir until melted

TRANSFER to a greased 11x7x2in baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Toss bread crumbs with butter. sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 15-20 mins or until cheese is melted

Helpful tips:
*Note that the rice is COOKED so you dont get to the mixing and forgot about it (which i am speaking from experience!)
*You can substitute any meat for the Ground Beef. I like to use Turkey Sausage to give it more of a Jambalaya taste.
*You can substitute the long grain rice for spanish rice to give it an extra flavor.
*Use diced tomat. with chopped green chili's to give it a spicier flavor.
*The great thing about this dish is that you can take out or add anything that you want. I don't use the olives or bacon, but add zucchini and sometimes celery.
*Instead of melting butter, spread bread crumbs on top and then use spray butter to coat them.
*You can freeze left overs for up to 3 months

ENJOY

~**~Nicole~**~