Jumpin? Jambalaya!

Hey everyone!  I hope you’re having a fabulous Saturday!

I was really craving some jambalaya from a local restuarant today, so I decided to make it for dinner.

I found this recipe on the Cooking Light website.  And as much as I love the theory behind Cooking Light, I still always find room to healthify their recipes. 

First of all, and (in my opinion) most importantly, I used hot turkey sausage instead of regular sausage.  I also used garlic powder instead of garlic salt and brown rice instead of white rice.  I used a green pepper instead of red, but only because I couldn’t find a red pepper.  And, as always, I used organic whenever possible.  In this case, I used organic chicken broth, organic diced tomatoes, and organic tomato paste.  I also didn’t measure spices, because I never do.  I used about 2-2 1/2 cups of uncooked rice for a thicker jambalaya, 1 lb of sausage, and 1 lb of shrimp.

And if you look at the recipe on the website, the first step says to saute the onion, pepper, garlic, and sausage.  I added an extra step after that.  Once they are done (veggies are tender, and meat is cooked through), you’ll probably notice some fat at the bottom of the skillet.  And I personally get completely repulsed by the sight of fat anywhere.  So I had to drain all of that out.  Little tip:  Just use the colander.  I tried to carefully just tilt the pot while holding all the food back with a spoon.  Don’t do that.  Save yourself the frustration and dump it into the colander.  Just be careful of the splashes since you’re dealing with hot fat and that definitely doesn’t feel on skin!

I was also craving Texas Toast Garlic Bread…really not good for you, and definitely not a friend of clean eaters, but forgive me.  It’s just one of those things I think it’s okay to indulge in occassionally….and it’s just oh-soo good.

The verdict:  This was amazing!!  That’s really all I can say.  It was incredibly delicious and everything tastes better when it’s healthified.

On a different note….

Most of you don’t know what today is.  Well let me fill you in.  Today is the birthday of the greatest woman who ever lived.  My mother.  Ok, maybe I’m a little biased, but whatever.  My mom is the most supportive, honest, loving person I’ve ever met.  If Mr. Webster knew my mom, he’d for sure put her picture next to the definition for selfless.   Happy Birthday Mom!  As always, thank you for all you do!  I love you

Today’s tip:  Get your calcium!  Did you ever wonder why calcium is so important for you?  Well, here’s a little info to help you understand.  Your bones get 99% of your calcium.  However, your heart needs the extra 1%.  And that 1% is so crucial to the function of your heart that is has to remain at a steady amount.  So if there’s a shortage of calcium from your diet, guess where the heart is going to get it’s calcium.  That’s right, your bones.  So here are some sources of calcium to help ensure you get enough: dairy products such milk, yogurt, and cheese, dark green leafy vegetables, calcium-fortified juices and cereals.  You can also take supplements that are paired with vitamin D which helps your body to absorb the calcium more efficiently.  Try to get one with 500-600 mg of calcium and take 1 tablet twice a day. 

Now I’m going to spend time with my pilot before he leaves for training for a week. 

Goodnight all!

Michelle