Chinese Hamburger Casserole

This is another comfort food for me. Mom used to make it all the time when I was young. Dad loved it too, he used to call it "Idiot Casserole" because it was sooo easy even an idiot could make it. That always made me smile.  I serve with homemade rolls and steamed veggies... Yummo!

Chinese Hamburger Casserole

1 1/2 pounds Hamburger
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (or one clove, minced)
2 or 3 stalks of cellery, sliced thin
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water (with soup)
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1/2 cup long grain rice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package chinese noodles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brown hamburger and vegetables in a large skillet, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. While hamburger cooks, heat 1 and 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan, when boiling add the 1/2 cup rice and cook for 10 minutes.
When hambuger is browned, drain off fat. Add the soup, the can of water, soy sauce and cooked rice with remaining liquid that's in it. Stir to combine. Taste the sauce at this point to see if you need more salt and pepper.
Pour into a 13x9 casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle chinese noodles over the top. Continue baking for another 15 minutes.

Let rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!