Campfire Girls' Texas Hash - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 - 1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 -3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can peeled diced tomatoes
1 -2 tablespoon dark chili powder
water

Preparation

In a deep-sided saute pan, dutch oven, or other deep pan with tight-fitting lid, brown beef over medium-high heat.
(If not using lean ground beef, you will need to drain off all but a few Tbsp. of the fat at this point.) Add onion and garlic.
Saute until onion begins to get transparent.
Add rice.
Stir in and saute a little more, just until rice starts to get opaque.
Reduce heat to low.
Add tomatoes, with their liquid.
Stir well.
Stir in chili powder.
Add half the tomato can or so of water, and stir.
Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Remove lid and stir again.
Add 1/3 to 1/2 can more water, as necessary.
Make sure you stir thoroughly so that none burns to the sides.
Cook another 10 to 15 minutes, or until rice is done and all water is absorbed.