1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 (16 oz) can whole tomatoes, cut up
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans
1 cup instant rice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

crumble ground beef in 2 quart casserole. add onion, green pepper and garlic. cover. microwave at HIGH 4-6 minutes or until the meat loses most of its pink color and veggies are tender. stir to break up meat. drain. add remaining ingredients except cheese. cover. microwave 16-20 minutes, or until rice is tender, stirring after half the time. sprinkle cheese over top. cover. let stand in minutes.