Another Slow Cooker Meal: Red Beans and Rice

I tried this recipe out earlier in the week.  Well, I kinda made-due with several of the ingredients.  It was super easy to make, but I think that if I make it again, I will follow the recipe verbatim. 

The recipe is from Southern Living magazine and can be made on the stove top or in the slow cooker.  Since I was going to be in meetings all day from work and then traveling too and from a client that is almost in the next state, I wanted dinner to be ready when I got home.

Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red kidney beans
• 1/2 pound andouille smoked chicken sausage, thinly sliced
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• 3 cups uncooked long-grain rice
• Garnish: sliced green onions

Slow Cooker directions: Stir together first 7 ingredients and 7 cups of water in a 4 qt slow cooker.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 7 hours or until beans are tender.  Serve with rice.

My substitutions: turkey kielbasa instead of the sausage and cajun seasoning instead of the creole seasoning.

It looked pretty good when I made it:

And the house smelled delicious when I got home! 

I served with carrots!

But, the kielbasa had no taste and overall, the dish was kind of bland.  So next time I make it, I will follow the recipe verbatim and probably make it on the stove top.  Let me know if you make it according to recipe and how it came out!