Dirty Rice (The Fruit of the Spirit Cookbook)

1T olive oil
1/2# ground beef
1 med. onion chopped fine
1 rib celery chopped fine
1 bell pepper chopped fine
3 cloves garlic minced fine
1 (14.5 oz) can black beans
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne
salt
2 1/2 c chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 1/4 c white rice
3 green onions (opt.)

*brown beef and add onion, celery and pepper.  Cook ~10 min, until softened
*add garlic, beans, thyme, cayenne and salt, cook for 5min
*transfer to drainer and cover to keep warm
*in same pan add broth, rice, bay. Bring to boil, scrape bits from bottom of pan
*simmer until rice is done  ~17min
*remove bay leaves, add back meat mixture and stir together
*sprinkle with green onions (opt.)