Week 6!!! Grain of Rice (and a nail head)!!!

Baby is the size of a Grain of Rice!!!

I had the honor of attending the First Lady's Luncheon as a guest of Vicky Kline in 2009.  We had a wonderful time, and it was an experience I will never forget.  The First Lady hosts an annual luncheon which honors a different state each year....2009 was the year of Alaksa...and the food was amazing!!! 

In conjunction with the luncheon the Congressional Club releases its annual cookbook full of recipes created by spouses of current and retired Congressional Members.  I received two cookbooks that year, one for me, and one I gave my sister as a wedding gift.  One of Mrs. Kline's three recipes is below, and is a wonderful "hotdish" (there's some Minnesota lingo for you)!

Minnesota Wild Rice Casserole

(Thank you Miss Vicky, my favorite first lady of Minnesota!)

1 cup wild rice

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

3/4 cup chopped celery

6 T chopped onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 large can sliced or chopped mushrooms

2 beef bouillon cubes

1 bay leaf

1/4 tsp celery salt

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp onion salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp paprika

Pour 4 cups boiling water over wild rice and let stand at least 15 minutes.  Brown ground beef, and saute celery and onions in butter until transparent.

Drain rice, and add ground beef, celery/onion mixture, soups, mushrooms, 2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in 1 cup boiling water, 1 bay leaf crumbled, and remaining spices.

Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle slivered almonds on top if desired.  Bake covered at 350 degrees for 60-90 minutes.  Add more liquid during baking process if appears too dry.  May refrigerate several hours before baking.  Suitable for freezing.  Serves 8.

Jim thinks it's super cool that baby is  the size of a nail head!!!  Had to share...