Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

I got this recipe about 8 years ago at the Texas State Fair.  Southern Living had a cooking show in the auditorium of The Hall of State building.  I was super excited because I love Southern living magazines and cookbooks....oh and website! 

This recipe has great flavor to it and is pretty easy to make.   You use a box of Zatarian's Jambalaya rice then I also add two bags of the plain rice that I cook then put in with the pot with

everything else. Even if the Zatarian's isn't done I still put the cooked rice in because it just gets so tender. 

If it seems to need more liquid add more chicken broth or water.  You want it to have enough liquid to cook the Zatarian's rice and in the end it will absorb all the liquid.  I think in the end I might use more than a can of chicken broth... just fyi

Goes well with cornbread!  You have to try this cornbread recipe I have on the blog!  You use bisquick, cornmeal, sugar, milk, eggs one of the best cornbread I have ever made!!  It also taste good the next day, for real!

Saute onion, green pepper (oops, I forgot green pepper) then add summer sausage

Cut chicken, I used 2 1/2 chicken breasts that I had baked the day before

Add Rotel

This little box really has some good flavor in it!

You can make your rice the regular way but I find this so easy to just boil the bag!  Now when I make spanish rice or etc I do it the regular way.

Boil your rice as directed on box or make your own rice

Once you add the rotel and chicken broth add the Zatarian's and stir

Add chicken and cover.  Add the other rice once it's done and let it simmer along with everything else

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Look at all that flavor!

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

1 rotisserie whole chicken
1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices or I prefer bite size
1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove minced
2 (10-ounce) cans ROTEL Milder Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 box of Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Jambalaya mix

2 bags of cooked rice (equals 1 cup each when cooked)

Remove chicken from bones; cut chicken into bite-size pieces, and set aside.

Sauté bell pepper, onion and garlic for 3 to 5 minutes in a dutch oven over medium heat, then add sausage, stirring occasionally , another 5 minutes

 

Stir in Rotel, broth, 1 cup water, garlic powder, bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken, box of Zatarian’s uncooked rice along with the 2 bags of cooked rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until rice is tender.

Yield:  Makes 6 servings

If you don’t have Zatarain’s you may use 3 cups of uncooked rice and 1 tsp of Cajun seasoning to the boiling liquid then cover and let simmer for 30 minutes.

*I always use bag rice but if you don’t have any you may just add 1 cup (equals 2 cups when cooked) of uncooked rice along with the Zatarian’s.  I just think the cooked rice get’s tenderer and adds texture…

Pecan Pie Bars

I have had these before but I had never made them.  They truly are easy as pie to make!

First you make the curst which I didn’t get any pictures of because I forgot until I was putting them in the oven.  Basically it’s a shortbread crust and you just cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles a crumb like texture.  Then you pour it into your prepared 9X13 pan and press down covering the bottom of pan.  Bake it for 20 minutes the pour the pie filling over crust baking it for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.

I used parchment paper but next time I will just lightly grease the pan like it says.  I had to peel off the paper since it's kinda sticky!  They still came out great and oh are they good!! 

I was thinking I could even cut them into bars and freeze part of them for later.

The crust is like shortbread and the filling is just like pecan pie!  Great combo!!

So delicious and perfect for the holiday's!!! 

I left the pecans whole but could chop them if you would like

Mix all the ingredients for the filling then add pecans

Pour over baked crust- I forgot to take pictures of the crust!  It's very easy to make!

Beautiful color!

These taste just like a pecan pie just in bars!

Pecan Pie Bars

3 cups flour

½ cup sugar

½ tsp salt

1 cup butter

4 eggs

1 ½ cups light corn syrup

¾ cups sugar

¾ cups light brown sugar

3 T butter, melted

1 ½  tsp vanilla

2 to 2 ½ cups pecans

Preheat oven to 350- lightly grease a 9X13 pan or use parchment paper

In a large bowl, stir together the flour,  ½ cup sugar and salt.  Cut in 1 cup of butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle the mixture onto prepared pan and press firmly.

Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven

While crust is baking, prepare the filling.  In a large bowl mix together the eggs, corn syrup, white and brown sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth.  Stir in chopped pecans.  Spread filing over the crust as soon as it comes out of the oven. 

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until it sets.  Don’t over cook just until it’s not giggly anymore