Jambalaya

This can be modified to suit your tastes...I tend to pour the Tabasco in...but you can add as much or as little as you like!

1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 med. celery stalks, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups cooked sausage (linguica works well!)
1 tbls. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. Tabasco
3/4 lb. shrimp*
4 cups cooked rice

1. Mix all ingredients (except shrimp & rice) in crock pot.
2. Cook on low 7-8 hours (High: 3-4 hours)
3. Stir in shrimp, cover and cook on low setting 1 hour.
4. Serve over a bed of rice.

*Disclaimer on the shrimp: It is super yummy, BUT if you plan on having leftovers, I would suggest either leaving it out altogether or making it separately and adding it to individual bowls. If you try to save the whole mix with the shrimp in it, I've found that it gets really "fishy" tasting. Lately, I've just omitted the shrimp because for Andy and I this is a 2+ night meal.

Ridiculously Easy Tortilla Soup

I know the list looks long, but here's a tip: Costco carries many of the canned items in a 8 pack box...if you like this recipe, just buy the boxes and have them on hand...makes it soooo easy to just pick up the three or four fresh ingredients...as for the spices, if you don't already do this, ALWAYS buy the kind in the baggies in the "Mexican" section...only 79 cents and just as good! (Just make sure you have little jars to put them in once they've been opened...Cost Plus has them for 99 cents). Once you see how quick it is to throw this together, you won't mind the long list of ingredients! :)

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbls. olive oil
3 cans chicken broth
1 "can" water
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. lime juice (this works out to about 1/2 lime)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 4 oz. can diced green chilis,
1 15 oz. can black beans, drained
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in chunks
tortilla chips
monterey jack cheese (optional)

1. In the bottom of a stock pot, cook the chicken with the oil, garlic and onions.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients (except chips and cheese).
3. Bring to a boil...let simmer 1/2 hour.
4. Ladle into bowls.
5. Add tortilla chips to top of soup (crunched up).
6. Shred cheese on top.

YUMMY!

Strawberry Salad

Here's a delicious summer salad.

Butter lettuce (or baby spinach)
1 red onion, sliced very thin
sliced strawberries

Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Shake in dressing in jar and pour over salad. Taste as you go. You may not want all of it on the salad, it depends on how you like it. Yum!

super easy meatball sandwiches

this was tonight's dinner! its easy, feeds a lot of people (some of my family came into town to help out during david's hospital stay & recovery). i used costco meatballs, jar spaghetti sauce and whole grain french rolls. i toasted the rolls in the oven with a little butter, garlic and mozzarella cheese. we served it with fruit and chips. tasty!!

Fish Tacos!

easy fish tacos

1 lb of fresh or frozen white fish fillets (red snapper, tilapia, cod...)
2 tbs butter
1 tsp Pappy's Seafood Spice
3 tbs. mayonnaise
3 tbs. sour cream
1 tsp. lime juice
1 1/2 cups of shredded cabbage (buy a pre-made bag of coleslaw mix)
8 taco shells or tortillas
Fresh Salsa

1. Thaw fish if necessary. Sprinkle both sides of fish with seafood spice. Melt the butter in a skillet at med. heat. Cook the fish in butter for three minutes on each side (keep it moving so it doesn't stick) or until the fish begins to flake. Break it into bite size pieces. (for hands free cooking – bake the fish in the butter or olive oil for 15 min at 425 ˚).
2. In a medium bowl combine mayo, sour cream, lime juice and 1 tsp of seafood spice. Add cabbage and toss to coat. Add more mayo or sour cream for more moist tacos.
3. Put cabbage and fish into taco shell and top with your favorite fresh salsa.

If you can't find Pappy's Seafood Spice (they sell it at Food4Less in SLO) use a similar seasoning. Pappy's contains : salt, pepper, garlic, onion, celery, cayenne pepper, tarragon, basil, thyme and parsley.