jambalaya

let's hear it for some jambalaya! YA-YA!

as a girl from the south, i appreciate southern food. my mom and her friends often get together for lunch group and cook up a bunch of southern favorites (we're from georgia). here is one of my favorites that she makes. and it's in the crockpot. doesn't get much better than that.

ingredients:

12 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces

2 green peppers, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 14.5 oz. can whole tomatoes

1/3 cup tomato paste

3 cups cooked rice

1 can beef broth (14.5 oz)

1 tbsp. dried parsley

1 1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves

1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1 tsp. tabasco sauce

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

1 lb. shelled shrimp OR 1/2 lb. sliced, polish sausage (*the shrimp is the healthier option)

directions:

add all ingredients except shrimp or sausage, and rice, to crockpot. cover; cook on low 8-10 hours (or high 3-4 hours). add shrimp or sausage the last 15-30 minutes of cooking. stir in rice when ready to serve.

yields 6 servings.

enjoy, you southern bells!

{photo courtesy www.foodnetwork.com}