Everyday Jambalaya

Do you have one of those meals that you LOVED so much you made it every opportunity you possibly could, then for some unexplainable reason, you didn't make it for a while...then when you did make it again, you wonder why in the world you took such a long break from it?  Wow, how was the for a run-on sentence!  That is this Jambalaya.  When I took my first bite, it was like saying hello to an old friend...and what a mouth watering delicious friend it is!  I often put together the rice and spices to keep in a baggie in the pantry for a quick weeknight meal.  Make it....trust me.  Your whole family will thank you for it!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
• 2 ribs of Celery, diced
• 2 ½ cups water
• 1 (14.5 oz can) Diced Tomatoes, drained
• 1 (15 oz can) Tomato Sauce
• ½ lb Smoked Sausage (I use Turkey Kielbasa)
• ½ lb. Chicken (diced and cooked)
• ½ lb. Shrimp (peeled and deveined)  For the protein, you can adjust or omit any of the meat/shrimp combinations… so long as you end up with 1-2 lbs of protein.
• 1 cup Long Grain Rice
• 1 TBSP dried Parsley
• 1 TBSP Beef Bouillon Granules
• ½ tsp dried Thyme Leaves
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• ½ tsp ground Black Pepper
• ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper (this makes it mild to medium, but still totally kiddo friendly…adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp Salt
• 1 Bay Leaf

In a large pot, sauté onion, green pepper, and celery in some olive oil until tender. Add in rice, Parsley, Bouillon Granules, Thyme, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Salt, Bay Leaf, water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, smoked sausage, and cooked chicken. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat and let simmer for 25 minutes. Add shrimp and cook an additional 5-7 minutes until shrimp is cooked through. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. ENJOY!

This recipe has been linked up at:
Mommy's Kitchen Sunday Potluck
Eat at Home Cooks
The Country Cook