Food

Arlene Brooks’ Sausage Casserole

🧅 Ingredients

• 1 pound sausage
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 chopped sweet onion or scallions
• 1 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1 cup raw white rice
• 1 can cream mushroom or chicken
• 1 can cream of celery
• 1 jar pimento
• 1 cup (or more) grated cheese

📝 Directions

1. Brown the sausage, drain.
2. Add all other ingredients.
3. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
4. Then bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes in a heavy greased casserole dish.

• Soundbath | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 7-8 p.m. | Aura Self & Soul Care, 312 W. Main St., Carmel | $45 | This meditative experience promises to assist the nervous system and create a healing environment in the body to rest and recover.

• Adult Winter Reading Program | Friday, Dec. 16 | All day | Carmel Clay Public Library, Virtual | Free | Read books, earn a chance for prizes, and help support Kids Coats of Hamilton County.

• Create Your Own Bonsai Workshop | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 7-10 p.m. | LO-FI Lounge, 1043 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis | $25-$75 | Join Fountain Square Bonsai for a complete lesson on how to build and care for your very own bonsai.

• Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 5 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis | $6-$162 | Watch the Blue and Gold take on New York.

• St. Elmo Bourbon Chocolate Martini: Have yourself a merry-tini with this chocolate and bourbon drink.
• Smoked Cinnamon Manhattan: Get smoky and spicy with this crowd-pleasing cocktail featuring a fire-torched cinnamon stick.
• Ready-to-pour cocktails: Don’t have time to be a bartender? Huse Culinary does the work for you with pre-made cocktails — including two new flavors, Cosmo + Espresso Martini.*

• 41º | Mostly cloudy | 12% chance of rain

• Framework is now finished on the new Eskenazi Health center at 38th Street and Arlington Avenue. Construction began in June and is expected to be complete by early 2024. The new facility will offer primary + mental health care and imaging and nutritional services. 🏥 (WISH)

• Coming in hot with news straight from the oven. Utah-based Dirty Dough plans to open up shop in Indy, Fishers + Carmel by March 2023. The company specializes in two- and three-layer cookies, including the “Brookie,” which includes a chocolate chip cookie filled with fudge inside a brownie cookie topped with caramel. 🍪 (IBJ)

• Following almost a year of renovations, the old IMAX theater at Hamilton Town Center is now open at 14825 Norell Rd. Now called Emagine Noblesville Theater, it has 16 screens, heated stadium seating, private screening rooms, and a bar. It also features first row love seats, specialty popcorn, and wood-fired pizza. 📽️ (IndyStar)

• Downtown’s TrendyMinds marketing agency has acquired Fishers-based Statwax for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to bolster TrendyMind’s performance analytics + marketing capacity. Earlier this year, TrendyMinds received an eight-figure investment from a firm in San Antonio, which is planned to fund regional offices in Florida and Texas. 💼 (IBJ)

• Lifestyle blogger Beth Chappo of Zionsville recently published “The Village Cookbook.” This is her second recipe book and features almost 100 dishes that pay homage to her friends and family. Support local + get your copy. 📕 (Indianapolis Monthly)

• Need gift inspo? Give the gift of great taste with unique sauces, seasonings, and dining destinations. Check out our list featuring our favorite gifts + stocking stuffers from St. Elmo Steak House for the foodie on your gift list.*

• Got a coffee lover in your family? We can almost guarantee these two products are on their wish list — the Fellow Stagg Electric Kettle and the Fellow Pour Over Coffee Set. Both strike the perfect balance of form and function. Psst — don’t forget the matching travel mug. ☕ *