Mexican Skillet Meal

A few months ago, I submitted a recipe for a skillet meal to All You magazine. This is one of those easy meals that everyone likes. My kids are huge fans of rice, as well as taco flavors. It's rare to find a meal that all 5 of us willingly eat (I have a child that survives on air, chocolate milk, and peanut butter), so this is a great meal.

It starts, as so many do, with browning ground beef along with an onion and garlic.

Next, I add the rice until it turns sort of white and opaque. You want to slightly toast the rice at this step.

Add the spices, tomato sauce, and water.

After it simmers, serve it up! I make spinach separately to mix with the adult portions in our house. Green is wayyyy too frightening for my young children. *rolling my eyes here* And, I top everyone's with taco toppings--crushed chips, cilantro, onion, jalapenos, and a squeeze of lime. It would also be good with dairy, of course. I'd top it with cheese and sour cream.

All You liked my recipe so much that they declared it a winner! They sent this great non-stick skillet set as my prize. I'll also be in a future issue.

I love the skillets (they work really well), but I really love knowing that I was a winner. Thanks, All You!


Mexican Skillet Meal

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup tomato sauce
3 cups water
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1 t salt
1 t pepper
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
toppings:
shredded monterey jack cheese
crushed tortilla chips
jalapenos
cilantro
diced onions
sour cream
salsa

Brown ground beef in skillet, draining if necessary. Add onion and saute until onion is translucent, about 4 more minutes. Add garlic and saute for 1 additional minute, until fragrant. Add rice to skillet, stirring until rice is slightly opaque and white, about 2 minutes. Add in spinach, tomato sauce, water, and spices. Bring to a boil. Place a tight fitting lid on skillet, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, until rice is done.

Top skillet meal with monterey jack cheese, cilantro, onions, sour cream, salsa, and crushed tortilla chips, as desired.