Busy Night Rice A Roni

<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2F1chefmommy.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F05%2Fbusy-night-rice-roni.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F1chefmommy.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F05%2Fbusy-night-rice-roni.html&description=Busy%20Night%20Rice-a-Roni" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a>

OK So I'm not exactly proud to admit it, but some nights I don't have time to make everything from scratch and I turn to my pantry for the base of my meal. Tonight, the main star was Rice A Roni. This is more like instructions than a recipe, because any ingredient and amount can vary depending on your tastes and what you have available.
   I always stock up on good ol' rice in a box, and keep it as a pantry staple. Most nights it will only be used as a side kick to the main homemade event, or not even at all. But other nights, I don't have time for a lot of chopping, or standing at the stove. And I didn't think a head far enough to have put something in the crock pot that morning. So, I need a one pot wonder that will cook by itself and be done in about 25 minutes. Rice a Roni to the rescue.
   I wasn't going to post this, because like I said before. This is one that I'm not particularly proud to admit. And it's also more instructions than a recipe, but here it goes. (Consequently, I only have a photo of the 1/2 cup that was left after dinner, that my Angel Girl quickly devoured. Everyone really like it, and my handsome man went back for seconds and thirds.)

2 boxes of Rice a Roni. Any flavor you like will do. Tonight we did the brown rice version of chicken and roasted garlic.
This picture was taken this morning - when I decided to post this "recipe" so it's not the same flavor I used the other night, but you get the idea. Any two boxes will work.

1 package of smoked sausage or Polska Kielbasa, cut however you would like. I just sliced it.
Again, I took this shot this morning, so this is a frozen package from my freezer. You would obviously thaw it out first. But you knew that. :)

1 cup of frozen corn.

That's it! Just dump all the ingredients in the pot  (only add 1 1/4 of the flavor packets, since the sausage is salty) with the recommended amount of water, and cook for the recommended amount of time. When it's done, the rice is tender and flavored with the sausage and the corn is a nice sweet pop of color and flavor. It almost has a little sauce too, because the corn and sausage release some juice while cooking.

Here's the "recipe"

Busy Night Rice A Roni

2 5oz boxes of Rice A Roni (use only 1 1/4 of the seasoning packets)

1 13 oz package of smoked sausage or Polska Kielbasa

1 cup of frozen corn

Put all the ingredients, 1 1/4 of the seasoning packets and the recommended amount of water in a pot. (If you are using a kind that calls for you to brown the rice and pasta before cooking then do that first and then add the water, seasonings, sausage and corn.) Cook for the recommended amount of time. Serve hot.