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 and one cup of rice. Bring to a boil with the lid off. 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 (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
1/2 t salt
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, crushed bay leaf and salt. Cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Stir in parsley and cook 5 minutes more. Pour over rice.