Red Beans and Rice

I threw this together one night and my husband raved and raved about it. I hope it gets raves for you, too. :)

Rice: In a medium pot with a tight-fitting lid, add 2 cups of water, one cup of rice, 1 tsp. oil, and 1/2-1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil with the lid off. Stir thoroughly to coat rice with oil to avoid sticking. Reduce to low heat, cover and set timer for 20 minutes. Leave covered. Do not remove lid until finished.

Red Bean Mixture:

1 cup onions, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 T butter or oil (use less if you like)
1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
2-15 oz cans beans (red or kidney), undrained
1 bay leaf, crushed
2 T dried parsley (or 1/3 cup fresh)

Sauté onions, celery and garlic in butter until softened on medium high heat. Add chopped sausage and cook 5 minutes. Stir in undrained beans and crushed bay leaf. Cook, covered, for 10-20 minutes. Stir in parsley and cook 5 minutes more. Serve over rice.