The best spanish rice EVER!!

We had a dear friend over to teach us how to make some yummy spanish rice a few months ago, and I think Tony has made this dish probably about once a week since then! She is one of those people who cook without a recipe or exact measurements. It's just a dash of this about a fist full of that...etc! So while she was making it she would get about however much she usually used and then we would measure it so I would have exact amounts! Tony is such a rice lover, and is pretty picky about his rice, but the texture and taste is just perfect for him! It's really quite simple as well. I love it because HE makes it and it's one less thing for me to cook!:)

The best Spanish Rice EVER!!

(Nancy's Spanish Rice)

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3 cups rice (we use Jasmine rice...it has a nuttier taste and is perfect for Spanish rice)

1-2 Tablespoons oil

1/2 of a green pepper, chopped

1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped

1 lb. ground beef, browned(optional)

2 cans (small ones) tomato sauce

5 1/2 tomato sauce cans full of water

4 garlic cloves, chopped or pressed

1 teaspoon cumin

pepper and salt to taste

Put your rice in a large pot and place on the stove top. Add enough oil to coat all the rice (I'm guessing we use about 1/3 a cup or so...that was one thing we didn't measure!) Brown the rice and oil on medium high heat stirring frequently. The rice will start to turn white(er) than it already is and then it will start to brown. You don't want it a dark brown but a light golden brown and not all of the rice will brown, but when the majority is browned it is ready. I think this is what gives the the rice the texture that Tony so loves, so don't skip this part!!!:)

Once the rice is ready add the remaining ingredients. The key to the salt is to taste the broth before you start timing the rice. It needs to be a little saltier than normal because the rice will soak up a lot of the salt. When it tickles your taste buds, bring it to a boil and then cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. Enjoy with absolutely anything!!! We usually don't put in the meat if we are using it as a side dish, but sometimes Tony just likes to make it to eat as a meal in itself and he'll add the meat then (actually I think he would add the meat every time...It's me that doesn't think we need double meat at a meal!:))