Spanish Rice And Meatballs - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 slices bacon
2/3 cup uncooked white rice
1 lb lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/3 cup Heinz 57 steak sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 green pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup sliced celery

Preparation

In large skillet, cook bacon until crisp; remove, coarsely crumble and set aside.
Drain drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon.
In a large bowl, combine beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
Form into 20 meatballs, using a rounded tablespoon for each.
In same skillet, brown meatballs in reserved drippings; remove.
In same skillet, saute onion and celery until tender-crisp; drain excess fat.
Add rice, water,tomatoes, 57 sauce, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and hot pepper sauce.
Cover; simmer 20 minutes.
Stir in bacon, meatballs and green pepper. Cover; simmer and additional 10 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed,stirring occasionally.
Serves 4.