this can be make ahead

[Kitchen Witch]

This doesn't take long to make. You can even do it in a crockpot. I did it on the stove top and since we were having this for dinner, there was no need to make it ahead. But at this time of the year we get so busy that sometimes it's nice to have make ahead meals. Yesterday was a very busy day and this didn't take up much time.

Rice and Smoked Sausage

2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped**
1 stalk celery, chopped - I also added some minced fresh celery leaves from the stalk
1 cup chopped bell pepper - I combined green and red**
1 (14 - 16 oz.) package smoked sausage, sliced thin on the diagonal
1 cup rice
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
pinch sugar

Melt butter in Dutch oven; add onion, celery and pepper - cook until tender. Add rice, sausage, tomatoes, water, salt and sugar; bring to boil; reduce heat to low and cover tightly until rice is done.

I served this with a large salad with assorted greens, tomatoes and rinsed kidney beans; olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, basil and a sprinkle of sugar - and of course - crusty Italian bread!



If you are making this ahead of time and want to freeze it for later - immediately transfer to a shallow dish or platter to cool immediately. After about 15 minutes, refirgerate until completely cold. If you use aluminum bake pans you can transfer mixture to one; cover tightly with foil and freeze.

The night before you are baking it remove from freezer and place in refrigerator. When ready to cook, add a bit of water and heat. You can heat in the oven, transfer to a pan and heat on the stove top or use a microwavable container that is tightly covered with plastic wrap.


**To speed up my prep time I have chopped onion, and chopped green and red bell peppers (mixture) that I have prepared ahead of time and froze in a large plastic bag. I can measure out what I need and return the rest to the freezer. It comes in handy for dishes like this, stuffings/dressings, or if I want to use this mixture in meatloaves or meatballs, etc.

[stnadad]

You said that you can do this in the crockpot as well? What are the times and heat settings and also what kind of rice(quick cooking or regular) if you dont mind me asking. Thanks in advance.

[Kitchen Witch]

Cooking time depends on which crockpot I use. If I use my 6-qt. and set on HIGH it is done in 2 to 3 hours; my 3 1/2-qt. pot takes a bit longer on HIGH. Minute Rice works just fine in this recipe. For lazier days I can set the control to LOW - may take an hour or two more - depending on the pot.

I have even made this using leftover rice - placing the rice in the pot about 15 to 20 minutes before the sausage was done cooking - just enough to heat through.

For a really fast meal - steam the sausage, onion, celery, pepper (even if all of them are frozen); when cooked, empty hot water, return all ingredients to pan, add tomatoes (no need to use butter for this one) and leftover rice; heat through; season as desired.