I love Halloween

I love having a week off from cooking....just kidding but I will say that the kids have been eating candy non-stop this week. Not that I've seen them, but I sure have been finding candy wrappers everywhere (and yes, the ones I'm finding aren't mine!!). I did make this great dish the other day - Craig held his bowl up and told me to be sure to make it again. Good thing I wrote down what I had put in it!

Quick and Easy Sausage and Rice

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage (I used hot)
1 medium onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced (you don't really need it if you don't have it)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
2 1/3 c. chicken broth (yes, water and boullion if you're like me and that's what you have)
1 Tbsp. sugar
2-3 tsp garlic (yes, I used the dehydrated, garlic powder would work too if that's all you have on hand)
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
pepper
2 c. instant rice (the kind that cooks in 5 minutes)

Cook the sausage, onion and pepper until the sausage is browned (break it up into bite size pieces as you cook it). Add all remaining ingredients EXCEPT the rice. Bring to a simmer and simmer for exactly 8 minutes ;). Add the rice, stir, cover and turn off the heat. Leave it on the burner for 5 minutes and then dish up for the family!

I told you it was easy!!! If you have left over rice, use that instead and don't add all the chicken broth. Also, you can use less rice if you want it to have more liquid...use you own judgement and have fun reading a magazine with all the time you saved today.

PS- I'm going to do half ground chicken/half sausage one of these days..yum