Big Easy Beans and Yellow Rice

INGREDIENTS
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ pound low-fat smoked sausage or ¼ pound andouille sausage
1 item medium-size onion, chopped
1 item green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
1 item rib celery, sliced thin or chopped
8 ounce can no-salt-added chopped tomatoes
2 item 16-ounce cans beans of choice
½ cup no- or low-fat chicken or vegetable broth
2 item sprigs fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce, or to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

PREPARATION
Cook rice according to package directions, but add turmeric to water. Meanwhile, slice sausage and place in large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, turning occasionally, to render fat and brown. Remove sausage and set aside. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from saucepan, and add onion, bell pepper and celery. Cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans, cooked sausage, broth, thyme, hot-pepper sauce and black pepper. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring until beans are hot. To serve, spoon over warm rice.

YIELD
4 Serving/s

Nutritional Information
Per serving: 479 calories, 80 grams carbohydrate, 32 milligrams cholesterol, 8 grams fat, 24 grams protein, 609 milligrams sodium