Just as I was walking out the door to go to the bakery this afternoon, I thought “What’s for dinner?”
We had chicken sausage and No Bull Burgers, plus a handful of freezer + pantry foods we could use. But the chicken sausage caught my attention as being perishable and therefore high priority. And what goes well in a gumbo-ish dish? RICE!
60 seconds later, rice and water were in the cooker and the timer was set for 6pm. I’m really liking this thing more than I thought I would!
Convenience food at its finest. This made me so happy when I walked in the door to smell it nearly done!
To complete the 10 minute dinner, we simmered up a tomato-based sausage dish:
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
- 2 diced chicken sausages
- 1 green pepper
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- Southwestern seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Cooked together for 10 minutes until thickened and bubbly.
Served over a bed of hot sticky brown rice
And garnished with none other than the world’s best sauce: yogurt [since this meal was mildly fiesta-like!]
And a sprinkling of cayenne and smoked paprika
Tasty!
We are chugging along through Lost Season II. Matt has a hilarious set of impressions of the characters – I will have to record him doing them. Tonight’s episode was another game changer. I would like to know why when they have encounters they don’t ASK MORE QUESTIONS!
My other evening entertainment – Catching Fire – is also getting quite good. There was a time in my life [mostly when I was in school full time both the first and second round] where I rarely watched TV or read books because any free time was spent reading nonfiction and writing papers. At the end of every semester I would cram in some fiction before the new one began. I swore to myself once my RD was finished, I would become a reader again. And I’ve kept my word. Every day I look forward to getting in bed at night with my book.
Flying there now!
Emily says
i felt the SAME way about lost! like i would shout out questions to the tv i was wishing they would just ASK!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
I love brown rice in my rice cooker but it can be a little blah plain. Especially if you eat it a lot. I’ll have to try this recipe. So simple and obviously time saving.
emmycooks says
I think the ability to whip up delicious meals on the fly is one of the best results of learning to cook. And having a rice cooker do some of the work for you is savvy delegation!
jana @ newly wife healthy life says
I am falling in love with your rice cooker ha! That dinner looks awesome, I never would have guessed it wasn’t a planned meal!
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
I’m the same way — the day isn’t complete without a little reading in bed!
Cait's Plate says
Hahaha – you will get SO frustrated with LOST when it comes to things like that! At least I did. I literally would sit and scream and the screen! Can’t wait to see Matt’s impressions 🙂
Enjoy the reading – the first book of the series is next on my list!!
jen says
The whole Hunger Games series is fantastic. I work in a middle school where this series is a all the rage. To help my special ed students who wanted to read the book I read it as well so I could explain any spots that were confusing. I was hooked instantly and over our school’s winter break I finished Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I really wish there was a fourth book because I just love the story line!! I’ve already had to lend out my copies of the series to friends who are excited to read it!
KathEats says
Maybe there will be!? I can’t wait to see the movies!
jen says
I doubt it, but I’d love it if there was another! I wish they had broken MockingJay into two books. Can’t wait to read your reaction to the rest of the series!
The movie looks like it is going to be great and I think one of the best parts about the series is that both guys and girls like it so I won’t feel bad about dragging my boyfriend to see it!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
This is one of the first series my boyfriend and I have both read — love it!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Catching Fire is a good one!! (Have you seen the new trailers that came out today for Hunger Games–Sooooo good!)
I love rice cooker rice. YUMM
Ash bear says
That dinner looks fabulous! What’d you do pre rice cooker!?
KathEats says
Had a slice of bread with everything 🙂
Kinley @ Better Off Barefoot says
Oh those chicken sausages look really good! And I wish I would have broken down and gotten that brand of rice cooker. The timer feature is so much more convenient than mine…
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I haven’t seen lost yet, but my boys started it and I was watching a little in the background. I am intrigued, but have yet to get into it. Dinner looks delicious! Perishables always win out for dinner!
Jenny says
Looks good. You sure do love that rice cooker!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
ahhh that dinner looks so good! I love chicken sausage! And I’m glad you’re enjoying the Hunger Games series! I loved them!
alex says
fire roasted tomatoes are such a great alternative to regular canned tomatoes. Soooo good in homemade soups and sauces!
Megan says
Ok! I want some of your dinner! YUM!
Karissa says
I’m in my last semester of college and I know what you mean about finding time for “pleasure” reading… I crammed in the Hunger Games trilogy over winter break, but I look forward to spending more time reading for fun after graduation.
Dinner looks great! I love when improvisational cooking comes together 🙂
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
That looks so good for something you just threw together! Delish!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
You make me want a rice cooker more and more each day…I’m getting jealous! 😉
Molly @ RDexposed says
Yogurt for the win! We did an avocado + yogurt sauce for our dinner tonight. Never fails.
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
I’m currently a student and I definitely agree that it is hard to find time to do any reading. Even if, for a few days, I’m not that busy and can read, I then get busy and by the time I have time to read again, I have no recollection of what’s happened so far! But, I read Catching Fire over winter break and it was fantastic 🙂
Greta @ Staying Lost says
I love that you threw this all together at the last minute. Enjoy Catching Fire- it flew by when I read it!
[email protected] healthy helper blog! says
All this LOST talk makes me miss it so much! Its my favorite show of ALL time!
Anna says
I’m reading Catching Fire too, and it didn’t absorb me as much as The Hunger Games at first, but now I’m over half way and totally hooked again 🙂
KathEats says
Agreed – it took me a while to get into it, but now I’m hooked!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
I too am IN LOVE with my rice cooker!!!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
The yogurt garnish with cayenne and smoked paprika x 3 is about what I’d need 🙂
It looks perfect and you are putting the rice cooker to big time use. Woo-hoo for that!
Tee @ She Writes, Bites, and Window Shops says
Catching Fire was my favorite of the series! Let us know what you think!
Khushboo says
I’m trying to devote more time to reading these days- it’s nice to have a technology break during the day!
Michelle (Peachy Palate) says
I need a rice cooker and really want that sticky brown rice…right now…for breakfast!
Robyn @ Blueberries and Oats says
This past month I actually, finally(!), finished the series of LOST and I can’t wait to here what you think of the ending. I also can’t wait to hear what you think of the end of the Hunger Game series!!
[email protected] Sinfully Nutritious says
Kath, I agree about the reading and TV. Sometime I get so caught up in nutrition books, documentaries and healthy cooking research, that I completely forget how much I enjoy fiction too. I always allow myself fiction in the summer, poolside. It is my treat. I love any juicy vampire romance, I know, cheesy. I don’t know why, but supernatural love stories just captivate me. Maybe because they are so fictional, where most normal fictional stories could come true. Now, I save my favorite indulgences the elliptical. I find it some much easier to get through two 30 minute rounds if I am distracted watching something on Netflix on my ipad. It is like an instant reward for the cardio I hate. At least I love my regular workouts. For cardio I need distractions!
Dinner looks tasty too. Glad you are enjoying LOST.
Jasper @ crunchylittlebites says
the library JUSt notified me that my fiery, 50th spot on the Catching Fire waiting list has reached the end of the line! woooohoooooo! weekend reading? speaking of fiery! i always love your touches at the end! – cayenne! I am cajun so gumbo my louisiana-home-born-gal favorite (seriously, I was born at home in a dilapidated-nearly-condemned-bar) and your post is definitely hitting home! just this week i sprinkled EXTRA red pepper flakes on my homemade chicken pepper stir fry! peanuts for curry cayenne for gumbo what will kathy do next? 🙂
Hillary says
Have you ever seen the LostPedia website? Definitely check it out—but beware of spoilers! When Lost was on, I became so obsessed that I would SCOUR this site after every new episode. Such good theories!
KathEats says
I don’t think I will venture there until the seasons are complete!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Haha I felt the same way about Lost – I felt like I just got MORE confused with every episode! 😛
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
looks great! I love how colourful your dinner was 🙂
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
I love finishing the day with a good book! I used to be an evening tv person but lately I have been more into the books. After starring at a computer screen through the day, I don’t feel like looking at another square box! lol
Kendall says
The lack of communication between group members was one of my biggest gripes when watching LOST (which I just finished a few nights ago). They were always splitting up and discovering things, but then never talking about it. SUPER frustrating!
Jules @ La Petite Maison Verte says
Yummy-looking dinner! Now I’m thinking of picking up some chicken sausages at the grocery for next week…thanks for the inspiration, as always 🙂
[email protected] Flying ONION says
I need to get back on the book-reading bandwagon. Last year I was religious about reading every night. Not so much this year! And I miss it. Time to take advantage of it, especially if I plan on ever going for my masters (no time to spare there, I’m sure 😉 ).
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
What a delicious dinner! I love chicken sausages especially apple chicken sausage. I really need a rice cooker! Luckily, my fiance and I registered for one for our wedding. I cannot wait to use it 🙂
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I’m sure you’ve said this before but I can’t remember- how long does it take to actually cook brown rice in your rice cooker? And do you just buy rice in bulk (I get Lundberg Farms brown rice in bulk).
I’m a huge fan of any combo of veggies and some kind of protein covered in marinara!
KathEats says
I think it actually takes like 2 hours – which is why the timer function is so awesome. There is also a quick cooking button though and I think that’s like 40 minutes.
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Make those sausages veggie and that would be a perfect dinner for me! Great idea. I should unpack my rice cooker, I think.
Angel7 says
I laugh when my husband does character impersonations as well 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
julia says
we had a similar dinner at our house last night, but with field roast sausages and whole wheat pasta. i think yours looks better!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
I was just looking at my chicken sausages this morning as they sounded tasty. that meal looks absolutely scrumptious. and looks like it will work to make for my Friday night. 😉
Tracy says
It’s been 24 years since I graduated from college and I STILL appreciate the freedom to read whatever I want for fun!
~Christy says
Must make more of those throw together kinds of dishes. Easy, quick and uses up all the extras. What’s better than that??
Life's a Bowl says
Your dinner looks delic! When in a pinch, we often will use a boil-in-bag rice to make a knock-off jambalaya… We combine bell peppers + celery + corn + chicken sausage + shimp + brown rice + salsa and a dollop of Greek yogurt 😀
Allison K says
Lost will keep you guessing on most things till the very end…and the ending! Hours of discussion in my household.
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
This totally reminds me of the cajun place I went last night. I tried alligator, which was quite the interesting experience 🙂
Susan says
What kind/brand of brown rice do you use?
KathEats says
Lundberg Short Grain
Lace says
I just started looking into ‘real food’ and am trying to make the switch. In going through some of your archives, I noticed you have mentioned southwest seasoning several times… what exactly is that?
Thanks!
KathEats says
It’s from this trio and is delicious!! https://opensky.com/katheats/product/delicious-dietitian-southern-spice-trio
You could probably fine a similar flavor in your grocery store if you didn’t want to invest in all three