HOT ROD MEDITERRANEAN RICE DISH This spicy rice/sausage dish cooks in a crock pot, so by the end of the day your house will smell mouth-watering wonderful. All you need is a big bowl of salad and plenty of cold drinks. Serves 4. Per serving: 689 cal, 54.2 gm fat, 65 mg cholesterol, 35.5 gm carbohydrates, 3.1 gm fiber, 16.1 gm protein, 1511 mg sodium.  1-1/2 cup rice, uncooked  1/2 cup olive oil  4 cup V-8 vegetable juice  1 lg onion, chopped  1/2 green pepper, cut in strips  1 clove garlic, crushed  3/4 lb Italian bulk sausage  Salt, to taste Brown rice in olive oil. Put V-8 juice in crock pot. Add onion, pepper, and garlic. Carefully add browned rice to crock pot (an entertaining sizzle results). Brown sausage and add to crock pot; add salt.  Cook on high for 2 hours, then cook on low for 5 hours.

ZESTY BEAN AND RICE CASSEROLE  This delicious Mexicali recipe can serve as a side dish with a meat entree, or it can stand on its own as a main dish. Bring on the chips and salsa! Serves 6. Per serving: 316 cal, 6.5 gm fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 49.7 gm carbohydrates, 2.2 gm fiber, 16.4 gm protein, 789 mg sodium.  1 tbsp olive oil  1/2 cup water  1 lg onion, chopped  2 cloves garlic, minced  1-1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms  2 green peppers, chopped  3/4 cup uncooked rice  2 16-oz cans kidney beans, undrained  1 16-oz can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained chili powder, to taste Few drops red pepper sauce (optional) 1 cup low-fat mozzarella cheese  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large heavy skillet, heat oil with water over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, and peppers; simmer, stirring often, until onions are tender, about 10 minutes.  Add rice, beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and hot sauce; cover and simmer about 25 minutes or until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed. Stir frequently.  Transfer to a 2-qt baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 minutes, until cheese is melted.