Beef and Rice Veneto

Description
Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

 * 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
 * 1/2 cup chopped onion
 * 2 cloves garlic, minced
 * 3 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
 * 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
 * 2 teaspoons sugar
 * 2 6-ounce cans low-sodium vegetable juice or tomato juice
 * 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
 * 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
 * Salt (optional)
 * 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
 * 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
 * 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
 * 3 tablespoons water
 * 3 cups hot cooked rice
 * sliced fresh mushrooms for garnish (optional)

Directions
Cook beef, onion and garlic in 4-quart Dutch oven until meat is no longer pink. Stir to crumble meat; pour off fat. Add tomatoes, Italian seasoning, sugar, juice, vinegar, pepper sauce and salt (if desired) to beef mixture. Cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add mushrooms, green pepper and cornstarch dissolved in water. Cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened and vegetables are tender. Serve over hot rice. Garnish with additional mushroom slices, if desired.