Easy Cheesy Lentil & Rice Casserole

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/4-1/2 cup margarine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup dry lentils
• 1 cup uncooked rice (, not instant rice)
• 2 1/2 cups hot water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 piece sandwich bread
• oil
• italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 use a big pot and cook onion in margarine until soft.
• 2 in a bowl, stir together bouillon and hot water.
• 3 add lentils, rice, bouillon-water mixture and cold water.
• 4 bring to a boil.
• 5 lower heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 6 meanwhile, fry both sides of a slice of bread in oil and sprinkle with italian seasoning blend.
• 7 cool on rack.
• 8 after 25 minutes, rice should be cooked and lentils should be cooked but still firm (not mushy) and there should still be some moisture in the mixture.
• 9 turn stove off and stir 1 cup of the cheese into the mixture until cheese is melted.
• 10 pour mixture into a 9 by 13 pan that has been sprayed with pam and smooth the top with the back of your spoon.
• 11 sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over top.
• 12 crunch up the cooled fried bread with a knife and sprinkle over casserole.
• 13 sprinkle parmesan over casserole.
• 14 bake in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes or so until cheese is melted.
• 15 let cool slightly before serving.