Texas Green (A Great Casserole)

Montana Heart Song's Note:

My own recipe evolved when making green rice. For oven casserole or crockpot, a great take along.You can have this meatless or use any ground meat.Just add more cheese and crushed crackers for meatless.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 2 lbs ground beef or 2 lbs ground turkey or 2 lbs ground chicken or 2 lbs chopped tofu
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 whole green onions , chopped
• 2 (4 ounce) cans green chilies
• 2 cups celery , chopped
• 4 cups fresh spinach , chopped fine
• 3 green peppers , cored, seeded, chopped
• 2 medium zucchini , ends cut, peeled, seeded & chunked
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 2 garlic cloves , mashed
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon mccormick all seasoning
• 2 cups raw white rice , washed & drained
• 4 cups crushed crackers (optional)
• 2 cups shredded shredded American cheese or 2 cups Velveeta cheese or 2 cups cheddar cheese or 2 cups colby-monterey jack cheese
• Pam cooking spray

Directions:

1. In large pan, saute meat or tofu in olive oil with green onion, green chilies, celery spinach, green peppers. Set aside.
2. Place half of the zucchini chunks in blender and pulse until milk. Measure and pour into a large mixing bowl. Blend until milk the balance of the chunks, measure and put in mixing bowl. Pour in evaporated milk.
3. Liquid must measure 4 cups. Add water from the 1 cup as needed. If you don't need, do not add.
4. Add washed rice. Add sauteed meat and vegetables and italian seasoning, cumin, celery seed, garlic and white pepper. Mix.
5. Preheat oven 350*.
6. Spray pam in large 4 quart casserole with lid or foil.
7. Add meat & vegetable mixture. Cover. Cook.
8. 45 minutes until rice is done.
9. Last ten minutes of cooking, stir casserole.
10. (If meatless place crushed crackers on top.).
11. Pour shredded cheese on top and cook covered ten minutes. Before serving, set 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with hot crusty bread or biscuits. This can be made in a crockpot, 4hours on high. Follow exact instructions and add cheese last 10 minutes covered.