Rice Sausage Casserole

I got this recipe idea from my mom's sister and have played with it over the years.  This is my favorite version of it to date!  Enjoy!

Rice Sausage Casserole - Emily Bohman

1 medium onion - very finely diced

1 c celery - very finely diced

1 medium green pepper - diced

1 sm jar pimentos

1 package Lipton Onion Soup mix

2 1/2 c minute rice

1 lb Jimmy Dean regular ground pork sausage

(I like regular but HOT is good if you like a little kick in your head)

Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil and add Lipton soup mix.  Stir in rice, remove from heat, and let sit.  Brown sausage on stove.  Add diced vegetables and pimentos and let simmer until the vegetables reduce down and it starts smelling fabulous!  (I accidentally left the onions and celery in my food chopper thingy a little too long.  They were almost liquified!  I put them in anyway and actually liked the way it all cooked up!  So dice to your own discretion!).  Mix sausage mixture and rice together in a casserole dish.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees until heated through (about 20 minutes).  If you use regular rice, make some extra soup to add while it's baking in the oven so it doesn't dry out.

Happy cooking!

-Starving in Seattle (Emily)