Baked Beef and Rice Bake

This recipe goes back to the early 80's, I still make it once in a while, it's a really tasty and easy dish to throw together, if you have freezer ready beef all ready cooked and frozen in the freezer, just thaw on defrost in the microwave, and just throw in some cooked bacon with the other ingredients... freezer-ready ground beef makes this recipe even quicker!

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 6 -8  slices bacon
• 1 1⁄2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1  cup  uncooked rice
• 1  onion, chopped
• 1  tablespoon  minced fresh garlic
• 3⁄4 cup  chopped green bell pepper (optional)
•  seasoning  salt and pepper (or regular salt)
• 2 -3  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1  teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄2-3⁄4 cup  sliced  pimento stuffed olive
• 2  cups  good quality tomato juice
• 1 1⁄2 cups boiling water
• 3⁄4-1  cup  grated cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Grease a 1-1/2-quart casserole dish.
2. In a large frypan, cook the bacon until crisp; set aside to a plate and crumble.
3. To the bacon drippings add ground beef, with rice, onion, garlic and green pepper (if using) in the bacon drippings until beef is no longer pink; drain the fat/drippings.
4. Add in the cooked bacon, Parmesan cheese (if using) seasoning salt and pepper to taste, paprika, stuffed olives, tomato juice and boiling water (do not add in the grated cheddar cheese); mix to combine well.
5. Set oven to 300 degrees.
6. Transfer the mixture to a prepared dish.
7. Cover tightly, and bake for 1 hour.
8. Uncover, sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese, and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until cheese has melted, and the rice is done to desired tenderness.