Smoky Sausage and Peppers on Cheddary Brown Rice Farina

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice farina uncooked
• 2 teaspoons canola oil divided
• 0.1 teaspoon pepper red crushed
• 0.5 teaspoon thyme leaves dried
• 1.5 cups milk fat-free
• 2 medium garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 1 cup bell pepper red chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded reduced-fat
• 4 ounces turkey sausage smoked cubed ()
• 2.3 cups water divided

Equipment

• frying pan
• sauce pan

Directions

1. Bring 2 cups water, milk, salt, and thyme to a boil in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in farina; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While farina cooks, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add sausage, and cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently.
4. Remove from pan; set aside, and keep warm.
5. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to pan; add onion and bell pepper. Saut 5 minutes or until onion begins to brown. Stir in garlic and crushed red pepper; saut 15 seconds.
6. Remove from heat. Stir in sausage and remaining 1/4 cup water, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
7. Spoon farina evenly onto each of 4 plates.
8. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Spoon sausage mixture evenly over cheese.