POOR MAN'S PAELLA

(RECIPE POSTED BY ROBIN HENRY)

1 lb. Kielbasa sausage
8-16 oz. salad shrimp (can use fresh if you get a good price shelled & deveined small to medium in size; if you use fresh cook them for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat..add back later. If they cook too long they'll be tough)
2 - 1 lb pkg. Yellow/Spanish Rice
1-- 14 1/2 - 15 oz can diced tomatoes (drain and SAVE juice)
1 whole small bellpepper, or 1/2 of large bellpepper (diced)
1 lg (or 2 med) onions diced
2 stalks of celery diced small
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Cayenne pepper to taste
1-2 dashes garlic powder optional

Cut Kielbasa sausage into 1/4 inch circles or half circles ( I usually do half circles), and brown in 2 T. of olive oil. Add diced onion, celery, and bellpepper. Add enough water to tomato juice from diced tomatoes to be equal to amount of water the pkgs of rice says use. Do not add more butter or olive oil like the pkg. says because 2 T. of olive oil and drippings from sausage is more than enough. Bring to boil- add diced tomatoes and rice/seasoning in rice, and salad shrimp, cayenne pepper..let it start bubbling good on med. to med. high heat for one minute and then reduce heat to simmer for at least 20 minutes, or till water is gone. Do it all in Dutch Oven on top of the stove. Just add a salad , and maybe some french bread, and voila you're in heaven.