Mexican Rice Casserole

An old friend used to make this Mexican rice casserole for me all the time. I started craving it the other day and decided to try and recreate it myself. We had friends coming for dinner and I figured this would be a great meal for a large group. My friend would use a can of Mexican tomato sauce that was really spicy but it wouldn't be good for the four kids eating dinner so I opted to use regular tomato sauce. (If you aren't serving kids, I recommend the spicy tomato sauce for added flavor and kick). I also decided to throw in some black beans, cilantro and extra seasonings. It turned out really delicious - we all loved it (except for my daughter - picky kid). I topped it with sour cream but also served it with salsa and guacamole on the side. It was quick and easy to make and there was little clean up. I served this casserole with my Southwestern Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette and they paired nicely together.