Cheesy Rice & Mushroom Casserole With Spinach (crockpot recipe)

1 Tbs cumin seeds
1 Tbs vegetable oil
2 onions, finely chopped
4 stalks celery, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs minced gingerroot
1 tsp salt
1 tsp crushed black peppercorns
2 cups long-grain brown rice
1/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
28oz can diced tomatoes, including juice
4 cups vegetable broth
2 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8oz fresh spinach leaves, washed, stems removed and chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1) In a dry skillet, over medium heat, toast cumin seeds until they release their aroma and just begin to turn brown.  Transfer to a mortar or a spice grinder and grind coarsely.  Set aside.
2) In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add onions and celery, and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic, gingerroot, reserved cumin, salt, peppercorns and rice, and cook, stirring for 1 minute.  Add sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoes with juice and vegetable stock, and bring to a boil.
3) Place mushrooms in slow cooker stoneware.  Pour rice mixture over mushrooms and stir to combine.
4) Place two clean tea towels, each folded in half (so you will have four layers), across the top of slow cooker stoneware.  Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 hours, until rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
5) Remove tea towels.  Stir in spinach and sprinkle cheese over top of mixture.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 25 minutes, until spinach is cooked and cheese is melted.  Serve piping hot.

Review:  I accidentally used half the amount of tomatoes, used ground cumin and skipped step one, didn't see that I had to chop the portobellos and I doubled the spinach on purpose.  I tend to buy the big container of baby spinach from Costco and then use the whole thing.  Spinach wilts down to almost nothing, so typically doubling it doesn't overpower a dish.  I cooked this for about 3 hours on HIGH, because my crockpot tends to run hot and cooks faster than others.  Despite all the changes, this was definitely the comfort food taste that I was looking for this weekend!  Yum, veggies, starch and cheese.  What more could I ask for?