Jumpin' Jambalaya

Jumpin' Jambalaya

Serves: 5

A flavorful favorite that you can enjoy without guilt. Add your own spices to taste.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound steamed shrimp, peeled and chopped
8 oz. turkey smoked sausage pieces
1-1/2 cups cooked pinto beans
16 oz. can Cajun style stewed tomatoes
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 cup bell pepper, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
4 cups long grain brown rice, cooked

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onions, celery and peppers until they soften.
2. Add garlic, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, Tabasco sauce, salt and water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
3. Stir in pinto beans.
4. Heat skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage and cook until browned (5 min).
5. Add shrimp, sausage and cooked rice to pot of veggies and simmer for 5 minutes, while stirring.

NUTRITION INFO (per 4-ounce serving)
Calories: 467.7
Fat: 10.2 g
Carbohydrates: 69.6 g
Protein: 27.1 g

Morphing Crochet Projects

I'm shaking my head as I write this... it seems that every time I try to follow a crochet pattern, I end up making significant changes to it. The Whisper of Elegance sweater that I was making is morphing into something totally different pattern wise. At first I thought I didn't have enough yarn. So I made it shorter. I also made it bigger. I then got to the arm area and thought... hmmm inset arms would be nice, so I changed that. I did follow the instructions for the "V" in the front of the sweater. Now I am on to the arms and changing those... I'm making the arms rounded at the top so I can do sort of a cap sleeve. I plan on making a belt for it as well as adding ribbing all around the sweater, and sort of a shawl collar for it. I think since I have made so many changes, this must be an original for me. I'll have to write the pattern out and see if it works.

I am thinking that I will make the Whisper of Elegance sweater next and really follow the pattern. I need to purchase the yarn for that one... I think I want it in pale blue. I think it would look real nice in a Homespun type yarn. I will have to see what I find.