Italian-Style Rice Casserole with Pork

Ingredients

• 4 Quebec pork chops (bone-in), approximately 2-cm (¾-in.) thick, fat trimmed
• 1 tbsp. 15 ml olive oil
• 2 tbsp. 30 ml butter
• 2 Italian sausages, crumbled
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. 2.5 ml crushed cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 cups 375 ml long grain rice
• 2 cups 500 ml chicken broth
• 1/2 cup 125 ml diced tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• Snipped flat-leaf parsley, to taste
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste