Family Recipe

Happy Friday!

When you have a lot of people to feed, it is always a challenge to find quick and "stick to your ribs" meals that are economical. Here is one of our favorites that is both easy on the wallet and satisfying:

Sausage Rice/Lentil Casserole (a family original recipe!)

Brown the following in a heavy pan:

1 pound breakfast sausage
1 medium onion or 2 tablespoons onion powder

In a separate pan, combine:

1 cup of brown rice
1 cup of green lentils
4 cups of water

Bring lentils and rice to a boil, reduce heat to low or medium low (depending on your stove), and cover. Cook for about 40-45 minutes or until done. Try not to take off the lid for the first 40 minutes of cooking.

To sausage add:

1/4 cup good quality Worcestershire sauce or more, depending on your taste (I have used cheap brands and they don't work as well)
salt & pepper to taste

Combine browned sausage and cooked rice/lentil mixture. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water and stir over medium heat until heated through. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella or cheddar cheese and cover to melt cheese. Serve!

You can also add vegetables to this dish and serve as a casserole. We like it just the way it is. I serve it with tortillas, a green salad, and carrot sticks. It is one of our favorites! Even the toddlers enjoy it.

I triple the recipe so everyone can have seconds and thirds. If I'm extremely lucky, we'll have leftovers :o) Not a common phenomena in our house!

Blessings!