Easy Peasy Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• Olive or canola oil, as needed
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 minced garlic clove or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 chopped red or green bell pepper
• ½ large yellow onion, chopped (or 1 small onion)
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 12 slices American cheese
• 6 slices Texas Toast (see note)

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add a splash of oil.
2. Add the ground beef, bell pepper, onion, and minced garlic (if using fresh). Cook, breaking up any large chunks of meat with a wooden spoon, until the beef is browned.
3. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
4. Reduce the heat to low and add water, ketchup, mustard, garlic (if using powder), Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar to the skillet. Stir well and simmer for about 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
5. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
6. Place the Texas Toast slices on a baking sheet and broil until they turn golden.
7. Remove the baking sheet from the broiler and top each slice of toast with a piece of cheese. Return the baking sheet to the broiler and broil for 30 seconds or until the cheese starts to melt.
8. Spoon some of the beef mixture over each slice of toast with cheese. Add another slice of cheese on top.
9. Broil again until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
10. Serve the cheesy beef mixture on Texas Toast while hot.

Note: Texas Toast is a thickly sliced bread that is available in most grocery stores.