Savory Sausage Quick Skillet

This flavorful, low cost recipe is ready in the time it takes your rice to cook, about 30 minutes. High fiber with beans and brown rice.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4-5

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 lb  cooked  Italian sausage (about 4)
• 1  cup  chopped zucchini (a small tender one)
• 1  cup frozen sweet corn
• 15  ounces canned red kidney beans
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  tablespoon  instant minced onion (dry spice or fresh chopped)
• 1⁄2 tablespoon  Old Bay Seasoning (substitute ( celery salt, red & black pepper)
• 1  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1  teaspoon paprika
• 1  cup long grain brown rice (I like Trader Joe's Medley)
• 2 1⁄2 cups water
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons  beef bouillon (which is usually 1 packet or 1 cube)
• 1  bay leaf

Directions

1. Bring 2 1/2 cups water, bullion and bay leaf to a boil. Add 1 cup rice. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 30 to 35 minute.
2. You make take 15 minutes to prepare a fresh green salad to accompany the meal (or put your feet up!) The skillet portion will only take 15 minutes and you want it to be ready exactly when the rice is done. * If you begin the skillet when you begin the rice, you will overcook the beans and corn (yuck).
3. Half way through rice cooking time -- Heat skillet/fry pan to medium high, add olive oil.
4. Chop sausage and zucchini bite size and add to hot pan with minced onion. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until zucchini softens and sausage begins to brown.
5. Add cup of corn (straight from freezer is fine), drain and gently rinse kidney beans and add to skillet.
6. Season with old bay, garlic and paprika. Bring to a simmer for 1 or 2 minutes.
7. Remove from heat when everything is heated through and fragrant.
8. Remove rice from heat. Discard the Bay Leaf.
9. Serve sausage mixture over rice. TASTE before adding any salt as the sausage, old bay and bullion all provide plenty of sodium.*Whatever portions go in the skillet are up to you -- if you only have 3 sausages thats fine, love corn? add more. Try substituting summer squash, other bean types -- etc.