Hot Dish: Country Pie

Dear friends, it's been a rough week so far. I'm having post-vacation blues, being seriously reminded of how much I dislike my job and if I had to do it full time I'd be sticking my head in the oven along with tonight's dinner. Oh, wait, I have a electric, not gas, so that wouldn't work. *sigh* We are also having some "family issues," nothing serious but just enough to create a bit of stress and strain around the castle. Then, last but certainly not least, a dear friend is losing his best four-legged friend, his precious canine companion for the past 12 years. My heart breaks for him as he goes through the process of saying goodbye...today I plan to go visit the two of them and try to provide comfort where I can. So, needless to say I'll be seeking some comfort food tonight!

This Country Pie recipe comes from a little gem of a cookbook I found at a thrift store, 4-H, FHA Favorite Food Shows Prize Winning Recipes published in 1962 by Suburban Propane Gas Corporation. Here's the original:




Country Pie

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1 cup rice -- cooked
2 1/2 cups tomato paste -- or sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 pounds ground beef
1 medium green pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/2 cup tomato paste -- or sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup grated cheese

For Crust:

Place rice in pan and cook until tender. While the rice is cooking, saute onions and pepper in butter. Cook until soft. Combine cooked rice, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Mix well. In a greased, medium-sized glass casserole, make a pie shell of the rice mixture.

Mix beef, tomato paste, salt, pepper, sauteed onions and green pepper. Pour this mixture into the crust already prepared and cover. Cook for 35 minutes in a 425° oven. Place cheese and parsley on top and bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until meat is cooked.

Serves 6
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Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 740 Calories; 45g Fat (54.2% calories from fat); 34g Protein; 52g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 140mg Cholesterol; 1732mg Sodium.


and now my Redux:



Country Pie Redux

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1 cup brown rice -- cooked
2 1/2 cups tomato paste -- or sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon smart Balance Spread
1/8 teaspoon pepper

24 ounces Morningstar Meal Starters Grillers Recipe Crumbles
1 medium green pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/2 cup tomato paste -- or sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese

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Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 251 Calories; 3g Fat (10.7% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 51g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 1mg Cholesterol; 1613mg Sodium.


Wowie Kazowie! Look at what happened with just a couple of substitutions! Seriously, this dish is still just as warm & comforting without all that fat & calories.

Now, off to work...groan...wish me luck as I try to get through this potentially-rotten day.