Baked hamburger vegetable chowder

1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup fresh or canned tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup celery, diced
3 small potatoes, peeled and diced
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup rice
4 cups water

Brown beef in skillet, stirring with fork to break up meat. Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, potatoes, onion, rice, salt, pepper and water. Mix until well blended. Spoon mixture into 3 qt. casserole. Cover. Bake at 350 F for 1 1/2 hours, or until rice and vegetables are tender. Serve hot in bowls.