Wild Rice Casserole

Wild Rice Casserole (or Wild Rice Hot Dish, as we call it up here)

Rinse 1 cup raw wild rice and put it in a heavy pan with 4 cups of water. Add 1 tsp. salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pan and low boil for about 45 minutes until tender. Let it sit for about a half hour and then drain off excess liquid.

Add the following ingredients to the cooked rice and mix well:

• One and one half pounds of fried hamburger (I use half pork and half beef and you can use ground turkey)
• 1 large onion chopped
• One-half cup carrots chopped
• One cup celery chopped
• 1 can drained sliced and slightly chopped water chestnuts (optional)
• 1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
• One-half cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup milk or half and half
• Salt and pepper to preference

Mix all together in a large mixing bowl and put in a large casserole dish or large cake pan

Scatter sliced or slivered almonds over the top (optional).

Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Cover with foil if the top gets too brown.