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If you are like me, you enjoy trying out new takes on old recipes. Spanish rice is a simple easy meal to prepare for you family or neighborhood potluck and not only tastes good but looks festive as well.

Here is a recipe, that I invented using an old recipe of my mother’s and changing it here and there to give it a more festive look and exotic taste.

Ingredients

• ½ pound of lean hamburgers
• ½ pound of ground sausage or bacon bits
• 1 package of taco seasoning
• 2 Cups cooked rice ( I use instant)
• 1 large green pepper diced
• 1 small onion diced
• 1- 12 oz package of grated cheddar cheese (mild)
• 1 small can of slice black olives
• 1to ½ jars of spaghetti sauce
• 1 small fresh tomato diced

Method

1. In large frying pan combined hamburger, sausage, green pepper, and onion and brown well.
2. Add taco seasoning and mix, turn off burner and drain excess fat from frying pan.
3. preheat oven to 350
4. Pour the rice into a baking dish. A rectangle glass cake pan works well.
5. Mix in meat, pepper, and onion mixture.
6. Add the spaghetti sauce and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Cover top of Spanish rice with cheddar cheese distributing evenly.
8. Return to oven and make until cheese is completely melted.
9. Remove from oven and sprinkle diced tomato and drained back olives over the top of the cheese.

Serves 4 to 6 people depending on their appetite.

Notes:

For a more festive looking dish you can also add some diced green peppers and fresh diced onion on top of the cheese along with the black olives and tomatoes, This will give your dish a very colorful and festive look.

This dish can also be made in a crock pot rather than an oven after you mix the meat and rice together. I just find the cheese melts smoother in the oven.