I almost convinced myself not to post this recipe, because I’m not sure how healthy it is, but since I’m also blogging about balance, it’s a good one to have for convenience and yumminess. I made it on New Years day and it would be great for a Super Bowl party. If you started from scratch, you could make Jambalya much healthier, but using Zatarain’s Jambalaya Mix makes an easy crowd-pleasing dish. Though the mix is gluten-free (despite listing soy sauce on the label), it contains Monosodium Glutamate.  It’s low on the list of ingredients but lots of people have huge sensitivity to MSG so be warned. I add a lot of veggies, chicken and turkey kielbasa so it dilutes some of the negative stuff. Plus, I get raves about the Jambalaya. Not sure if the same recipe would fly in Louisiana where I grew up but my California friends dig it.

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken tenders

1 package turkey kielbasa

1/2 onion

1 green bell pepper

4 sticks of celery chopped

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

Zatarain’s Jambalya Mix (Reduced Sodium)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

14.5 oz fire rosted diced tomatoes drained  (my sister-in-law Janet does this and I tried it and it really adds to the mix)

Saute the chicken in a non-stick skillet in a bit of oil  (about 3 mins on each side)  and season with salt and pepper. After the chicken is browned and cooked put it in a large bowl, then brown the sausage in the same pan.  Add the browned sausage to the bowl with the chicken. Saute the onions, bell pepper, and celery until soft. In a dutch oven, add chicken broth and vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and add the rest of the ingredients. Reduce to simmer for 25 minutes. Lets sit for 5 mins.  This is really great except if you have a bad reaction to MSG. |You can double the recipe if you have a crowd.

Here is a picture of the dogs soaking up the sun in between winter rain.

When I tried to take a picture of Texas Jones on the other side, Jenny went and sat right in front of him. He doesn’t seem to mind. He’s used to Jenny sitting on him. We all are.

I know a lot of people are feeling the jolt of the New Year like jumping into a mountain stream fed pond. Here is a song that references sunshine that I can’t get out of my head. Happy New Years everyone.