comfort food

What do you do when you want a good homemade meal but lack the creative imagination to create something yourself? You copy someone else! Last weekend, I made Estela’s Easy Red Beans & Rice. This recipe was awesome! I used a jalapeno and green chili chicken sausage which gave it a nice kick and served it over brown rice. All-in-all it was a tasty addition to our weekend.

Estela’s Easy Red Beans & Rice

• 1 pound andouille sausage (sliced)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 bell pepper (chopped)
• 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• olive oil
• 2 can’s kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon cajun seasoning (more depending on your taste)
• 1 cup dry white rice
• 2 cups water

In a large saucepan, drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil and saute sliced sausage over medium heat until it starts to brown a little. To the sausage, add chopped onion, bell pepper, & garlic. Cook for about 7 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add kidney beans, tomatoes, and spices. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

While the beans are simmering, combine your water & rice in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover & cook for 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

For serving , you can either mix the rice and beans together or by layering the rice first, then topping it with beans.

[And because Estela takes infinitely better pictures than I could ever hope to imagine here is her picture of the delicious meal]

Life advice from Kelly. Make this. It will make you happy and who doesn’t want some extra happiness in their life?