Casserole of Rice and Beef

I had a pound of hamburger thawing out in the refrigerator and with a green pepper from my neighbor's garden, and some food storage, I made a casserole dish my Mother often made us growing up.  She got it from Joyce, her neighbor during their Army days, and it's one I've always liked and that kids usually like as well.  

Casserole of Rice and Beef

1/2 cup dry rice

2 cups canned diced tomatoes or tomato sauce or a mixture of the two

3/4 to 1 lb. ground beef

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 medium onion, chopped (dehydrated can work as well)

dash of black pepper

1 tsp. salt

2 cans water from tomatoes

Sort rice, but do not wash.  (I love these older directions).  I also have heard now that you should wash the rice so that the arsenic comes off of it!  Melt 2 T butter (I still use this even in this Pam or EEOV era) in a frying pan.  Add dry rice, chopped onion, diced green pepper, salt, pepper and hamburger.  Brown to a rich golden brown.  Add tomatoes and water.  Let simmer in the covered frying pan (I only use cast iron nowadays) for 30 minutes.  Watch it so it doesn't dry out.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream.  

It also goes nicely with corn I think and/or green salad.

I given this recipe with canned goods when it is "food storage" bridal shower.  I give rice, canned tomatoes or tomato sauce with the recipe for their food storage.  Often I buy tomatoes that have diced green peppers in them so I can make it without buying a fresh green pepper. I've even given them canned corn too, so they'll have a side.  

NOTE:  Nowadays I like to make the rice in a rice cooker or use leftover rice.  I also often use already fried hamburger.  Just fry the rest together and then add in the rice and hamburger at the last. 

Responses to my request for Asian Themed Recipes

Do you have an easy, yummy Asian recipe you make? This month's recipe theme is "Asian" and I'm at a loss, except for Top Ramen:) Can you help me out? It would be most helpful. Thanks!

Here are the responses I received. I need to hurry and decide, so I can get the recipe turned in on time:)

Have you ever made the yummy salad with cabbage and uncooked top ramen noodles? This one isn't the salad with top ramen, but another favorite. i love this Asian Noodle Salad. keri

Asian Noodle Salad

adapted from Jamie Oliver
1 package linguine noodles, cooked, rinsed, and cooled
1/2 to 1 head sliced Napa cabbage
1/2 to 1 head sliced purple cabbage
1/2 to 1 bag baby spinach
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin
1 orange bell pepper, sliced thin (if available)
1 small bag bean sprouts (also called “mung bean sprouts”)
3 sliced scallions
3 peeled, sliced cucumbers (I didn’t have a cucumber for the photos above, but they’re yummy in the salad)
LOTS of chopped cilantro—up to one bunch
1 can whole cashews, lightly toasted in skillet (again, I didn’t have them for the photos, but have used them before and they’re…sublime.)

DRESSING:
Juice of 1 lime
8 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
6 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 hot peppers or jalapenos, chopped
More chopped cilantro—LOTS
Mix together salad ingredients. Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve on platter.
*Dressing keeps up to three days before serving, WITHOUT cilantro.


Lettuce Wraps

One of my favorite recipes is Lettuce Wraps. My friend Merrigay gave it to me.
Ingredients:

Green onion
Yellow onion
Yellow Pepper
Green Pepper
Red Pepper
( I use whatever onion and pepper or peppers I have on hand...and to me they have always tasted good) Diced...exact amounts I know not...whatever looks good
1 lb hamburger
In a seperate bowl mix: 2Tablespoons(or more)...I usually use 3 to 4 of Soy Sauce; 1 tsp. cornstarch; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. pepper; 4 tsp. sugar.
Add mix and peppers and onions to the hamburger.
When you have it mixed, leave it on the counter until you are ready to fry it.
Fry the mixture
Serve it with cooked rice
Place the rice and mixture in lettuce. (I choose whatever lettuce looks good:))
Enjoy
For whatever reasons I have been told that this recipe does not double well.
Anyways, it is an easy and yummy recipe for me.
Have a great week!
Nancy


Sweet and Sour Chicken

3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vinegar (someone told me apple cider was better than white)
1/2 c. chicken broth
3 1/2 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 lb. chicken (boneless/skinless), cut into strips
Garlic salt
Cornstarch
2 beaten eggs

In saucepan, heat and dissolve first 5 ingredients. Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt, then dip each piece in cornstarch, then beaten eggs. Fry chicken in oil until browned. Put chicken in 9x13 inch casserole dish and pour liquid mixture over the top. Bake at 325º for 1 hour. Turn chicken over on the 1/2 hour. Serve on top of white rice.

*Note- We double the sauce part because we like some extra for our rice.

Hopefully this helps some. Let me know how it turns out!

Love Jessica


Hi : the only thing I really make asian is sushi rolls, like the california roll. You need nori (seaweed Paper) sweetened rice and the veggies and fish that go inside. You also need the bamboo mats to roll it in .Do you like those? You can get the directions off the internet. They are so yummy , my kids love them especially with lots of wasabi and pickled ginger.  Other than that I just love the asian peanut dressing and put it on salads or marinade chicken in it and serve with rice.

wendy

This first recipe is one that I used to make a lot for parties. It can be an appetizer and served with rice for a main dish.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings

3 lbs chicken wings
1/2 c flour plus 1/2 c cornstarch
2 eggs (well beaten)

Sweet and Sour Sauce

1 c sugar 3-4 T Ketchup
1/4 c water 1 tsp Accent
1 T soy sauce

Use only the drumstick part of the wings and the middle section. Sprinkle with garlic salt and accent. Let stand for 1 hour. Mix flour and cornstarch. Flour pieces in mixture and dip in beaten eggs. Fry until golden in oil. Drain on paper towels. Put in baking dish and pour heated sauce over. it. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
Serve with white rice for dinner. This is easy and yummy! Mom


I found another Chinese Chicken Salad that sounds good. Mom

Chinese Chicken Salad

3 cups cooked Basmati Brown Rice
1 cup cooked chicken breast, cubed
1 cup of sliced celery
1 can 8 oz. sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1/2 c slice fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1/4 cup diced red pepper
3 T lemon juice
1 T reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 T sesame oil
2 t grated fresh ginger
1/4 t ground white pepper
Lettuce leaves

Combine rice, chicken, celery, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, mushrooms, onions and red pepper in a large bowl. Combine lemon juice, soy sauce, oil, ginger and white pepper in a small jar with lid. Shake well and pour over rice mixture; toss lightly Serve on lettuce leaves. Serves 6. One serving contains 248 calories, 11/5 protein, 5.8g fat, 37.1g carbohydrate, 1.5g dietary fiber, 593mg sodium and 20mg cholesterol.

Ice Cream, Ice Cream, We All Sing for Ice Cream

My neighbor made this dessert last night for our YW's activity -- "singing at the botanical gardens" and shared the recipe with us.  The girls had specifically requested it from her.  

I believe it's the same dessert she brought us when we moved into the neighborhood.  It's yummy, so give it a try, because she also said, "It takes about 5 minutes to make!"

Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

10 ice cream sandwiches
1 jar chocolate fudge sauce
caramel syrup
1 (20 0z.) Cool Whip (real whipping cream gets watery)
1 Heath or Skor bar, crushed

Layer ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of a 9X13 inch pan (you might have to cut one to make it fit.) Pour entire jar of fudge sauce over sandwiches and spread evenly. Drizzle thin layer of caramel syrup over the chocolate. Spread Cool Whip. Sprinkle candy bar over top (the candy bar is easier to crush if frozen first). Freeze.

Why isn't it called "salmonfish"?

Our daughter was making tuna fish sandwiches for our lunch yesterday and asked why other canned fish isn't called _____ fish?  Good question, because we just call it tuna in the ocean, but once it's canned it's called tuna fish, but canned salmon isn't called salmon fish, it's still salmon and so are all the other types of canned fish.   

I found a recipe for Salmon Loaf that my Mother asked my Husband's paternal Great Aunt Beth for.  I made it (see recipe below) for lunch today with some steamed squash our neighbor brought over yesterday.  My picky eater said, "This is my new favorite way to have salmon!"  Those words made it worth trying.  

Talking about canned salmon brings to mind my paternal Grandmother who ate a lot of pink salmon, because she wasn't much of a meat eater. It was always on her shopping list for Grandpa to pick up in town.  (He always did the shopping.)  I too find myself buying canned salmon to have on hand.  In fact, Monday I bought more at Sam's Club -- along with canned tuna fish, canned chicken, canned turkey, etc. -- in preparation for cold lunches for school -- which started Wednesday.  

I know Grandma used to make Salmon Patties at least, because we also ate them growing up and occasionally I make them for my kids.  It's something you can make quickly from what you have on hand.  It's something I should have made last night when my son asked for homemade hamburgers for the 3rd time in a row.  

Salmon Patties  -- Grandma Rhoda

1 lb. can salmon fish:)

1/2 c. dry bread crumbs or soda crackers

1 beaten egg

a little cream or liquid form salmon (they always had eggs and cream on hand on the ranch)

seasoned salt to taste

some onion powder

Drain salmon.  Clean off skin.  In a bowl, break up fish with a fork.  Mix in other ingredients. Form into patties.  Fry on both sides in butter.    

Serve with tartar sauce and fresh, sliced tomatoes.  (Our tomatoes are coming on right now!)

Salmon Loaf -- Aunt Beth 

1 16 oz. can salmon, drained and flaked

2 eggs

1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. chopped, cubed, dill pickles

2 Tbsp. grated onion

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix together salmon and eggs in mixing bowl; mix well with fork.  Add milk and bread crumbs.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Turn into greased 8 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in. loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Serve warm with sauce.  Makes 4-6 servings.  

Finnish Cucumber Salad

My Aunt and Uncle brought my folks some fresh cucumbers from their garden, so I made two of the cucumbers into this traditional Finnish version of cucumber salad. My brother and some of his family came for a visit today, so we served it then. His granddaughters ate pickles over this which is vinegar with salt, vs. vinegar with sugar and dill in this recipe.  This is a recipe we enjoy though because our Mother included it at most of her Finnish dinners. 

Finnish Cucumber Salad

Kurkku Tilli Salaati

2 cucumbers or 1 long european cucumber

Rinse the cucumbers. 

Do not peel, but score the skin 

by peeling the tines of a fork 

lengthwise through the peel. 

Slice cucumbers into very thin slices. 

Put into bowl with a lid. 

In a separate bowl, mix the following well;

1/3 c. cider vinegar

5 Tbs. water

5 Tbs. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. dill weed

dash of white pepper, optional

Pour over the cucumber slices and toss lightly. 

Cover with a lid and shake to coat evenly. 

Chill several hours to allow flavors to blend. 

It keeps well for days!