Last week, I got a text from a good friend asking for a recipe. The recipe was in a book that I’ve had and loved for years, but had never really noticed. I’ve noticed it now. It’s 100% super kid friendly (that’s super friendly, not necessarily super kids, but you can interpret it as you’d like), low in gluten, and … oh yeah, DELICIOUS.
PIZZA RICE CASSEROLE
(serves 10)
4 cups cooked rice
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup diced onion
2 Tbsp butter
2-8 oz cans tomato sauce
1/4 tsp garlic
Cook rice according to package directions. Brown beef with onion in melted butter in a large skillet. Drain off fat. Add tomato sauce and seasonings; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Combine cottage cheese and cooked rice. Put 1/3 of the mixture in a buttered 2 quart casserole. Top with 1/3 of meat tomato sauce. Continue to alternate layers, ending with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
**I made a couple substitutions … 1) I used ground turkey instead of ground beef, 2) I cooked the meat and onions sans butter (they turned out fine), much as I love butter, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, and 3) I used some agave (lower glycemic index) in place of the sugar**
VOILA!
Okay, scratch that … much as I’d like to, I just don’t think I can pull of saying “VOILA!” Anyway, and no matter, here it is. Make it. It’s good. Your kids will like it. So will your husband’s inner child who still wishes you made macaroni and cheese.
**Hey, this part is last on the recipe, but do it first, okay? The Pizza Rice recipe is actually courtesy of a beautiful woman named Connie. She is serving alongside her husband Dave with Josiah Venture in the Czech Republic. To learn more about Josiah Venture, click here. Or, check out Connie’s blog here! You won’t regret it. 🙂 **
Chocolate … ah, chocolate. Chocolate makes me happy.