Dirty Rice

What Exactly Is Dirty Rice?
It's essentially a rice pilaf that's been "dirtied" by cooking it with minced chicken livers or gizzards, which infuse it with crispy, tasty browned bits.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the ground pork and beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat until browned, stirring occasionally to break up any clumps. With a slotted spoon, remove the meat and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the pot.
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pot and cook until the vegetables are softened - about 5 minutes.
3. Cook for another minute, stirring constantly, after adding the garlic, Cajun seasoning, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, and bay leaves.
4. Add the rice and stir to coat it with the seasoning mixture.
5. Pour in the chicken broth and readd the meat. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer.
6. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook for about 25 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
7. Remove the pot from heat and let it stand for 5 minutes, covered.
8. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the chopped green onions. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
9. Serve hot and enjoy!

This recipe makes about 8 servings, so adjust the quantities accordingly if you need to feed more or less people.