#2988 - Brown Rice and Sausage

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
2 - 3.5oz bags Uncle Ben's quick-cooking brown rice (boiling bags)
1 cup chicken broth (more if necessary)
1 onion (chopped)
1/2 of a green bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 of a red bell pepper (chopped)
1lb. good quality smoked sausage OR hot sausage

Boil both bags of brown rice in water according to box directions. While the rice is cooking, cut the sausage into coin shaped pieces. In a skillet over medium heat add the sausage pieces--cook/stir until sausage is browned. Cover a plate with paper towels and remove the sausage pieces one at a time and place them on the paper towels to drain. Reserve any sausage drippings in the skillet. In the same skillet add red bell peppers, green bell peppers, chopped onions and a little bit of the reserved sausage drippings--cook/stir over medium heat until tender. Add the chicken broth to the onion mixture--cook/stir until boiling. When rice is done cooking, open the bags and add the rice to the chicken broth mixture--stir. Add the drained sausage pieces, salt and pepper to the chicken broth mixture--cook/stir until hot. If you want more sausage flavor in the rice, add more of the sausage drippings.

#768 - Cauliflower and Brown Rice Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. sliced mushrooms
1 large chopped onion
2 TBSP butter
juice from 1 lemon
1 large head cauliflower (washed and broken into small pieces)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 cups cooked brown rice (cooked according to package directions)
2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. salt

In a saucepan over medium heat--add the butter and melt. Add the mushrooms, chopped onions, crushed garlic--saute until tender. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the top of the mushroom mixture. Add basil and pepper--stir. In a separate saucepan add the cauliflower pieces--cover with water and add 1 tsp. salt--bring to a boil over medium heat, then boil for 5 minutes. Drain the cauliflower. Add the cauliflower to the mushroom mixture--stir. Add cooked brown rice to the mushroom mixture--stir. Grease a casserole dish. Pour entire mixture into the casserole dish. Cover the casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle cheese on top of the casserole--bake uncovered for 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.