Snowed-In with Yellow Rice Casserole

We had the pleasure of being somewhat "snowed in" for a couple days. School was closed for two days and amazingly the clinic was closed for one, so we were able to cozy up inside and catch up on lesson plans/treatment plans, clean house, and watch the snow fall from the window.


Oliver and Owen Bear

It looked like we had cotton growing in front of our house!

Our cold, quiet street before the roads got too bad...

We enjoyed breakfast early in the morning to start a productive day in.


We ventured the 1 mile drive to the gym and loved being able to workout with no rush and no crowd.

With our workout behind us, all paperwork complete and all housework done, we could actually relax with dinner and American Idol Thursday night, and my Yellow Rice Casserole was on the menu.

The recipe is just one of mine and is a spin on traditional chicken and rice casserole, made instead with yellow rice. My favorite! You can change and add just about anything...mushrooms, vegetables, beef. But here's how I made it for our warm and cozy dinner.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz pk Mahatma Yellow Rice
• 1 can Rotel, drained
  
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 link precooked sausage (optional) I had it leftover from another recipe.
  
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion chopped
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• dried parsley, salt, and pepper to taste
• sour cream for garnish (optional)

Cook rice according to package directions. In a large, deep skillet, saute chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic in olive oil on low for 2-3 minutes. Chop the chicken breasts into chunks and add to skillet. Add your seasonings and cook until chicken is no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Add your sausage, if using. When the chicken is cooked, combine everything from your skillet into the rice. Add in the cream of chicken and rotel and mix, then spread into casserole and bake for just 15 minutes or so at 350. We served ours with a splash of Lousiana and a dollop of sour cream.

We've had more snowy weather this year, than the last several combined. EVERYone seems to be over the cold weather and itching for spring time. I took our snowman down from our front door in hopes that we've seen the last of snow for the winter.

Here's hopin'!

XOXO,
Katie