Spanish Rice and Meatballs

6 slices bacon
1 lb. lean ground beef
½ cup soft bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ tsp. salt
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup sliced celery
2/3 cup uncooked white rice
1½ cups water
1 16oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup Heinz® 57 Sauce
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1 green bell pepper, cut into ¾” chunks

In skillet, cook bacon until crisp; remove, coarsely crumble and set aside. Drain drippings, reserving 1 tbsp.

In large bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, egg, and salt. Form into 20 meatballs, using a rounded tablespoon for each. In same skillet, brown meatballs in reserved drippings; remove. In same skillet, sauté onion and celery until tender-crisp; drain excess fat. Add rice, water, tomatoes, 57 Sauce, 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.

4 servings