Fall Harvest Rice

This spiced rice casserole, with sausage and apple, doubles as a satisfying main dish or as a hearty side dish.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound well-seasoned lean bulk pork sausage
3 cups cooked rice*
1 tart red cooking apple, cored and chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cooking Directions:

1. Cook sausage in skillet, stirring to crumble. Drain well.
2. Combine sausage, rice, apple, onion, celery, raisins, sugar, salt, allspice, cinnamon and pepper; spoon into buttered 2-quart baking dish.
3. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) 25 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.

Makes 8 servings.

*According to the USA Rice Federation, 1 cup uncooked long grain rice cooked in 2 cups liquid for 18 to 20 minutes will yield approximately 3 to 4 cups cooked rice.

Recipe provided courtesy of USA Rice Federation.