{"id":1158,"date":"2010-02-25T09:39:55","date_gmt":"2010-02-25T17:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topmomblog.com\/?p=1158"},"modified":"2011-03-07T15:47:59","modified_gmt":"2011-03-07T23:47:59","slug":"chicken-and-sausage-jambalaya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/chicken-and-sausage-jambalaya\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nIn honor of Fat Tuesday and the Mardi Gras celebrations going on in New Orleans, I decided to cook up a batch of Jambalaya. \u00a0Growing up in Arkansas (located directly above Louisiana in case you’re geographically challenged) I made my first trip to Mardi Gras during my sophomore year of college when I decided to take a “break” from academics. Naturally, my parents were not keen on this idea, but I did return and get that BA \ud83d\ude42 Whether for business or pleasure, a visit to the Big Easy is an experience of food, music, culture,and history like you’ve never experienced!<\/p>\n

I’m elated to see N’Awlins rising like a phoenix from the ashes of Katrina and experiencing a “perfect storm” of \u00a0sorts with celebrations for their Super Bowl win merging into the city’s infamous Mardi Gras. \u00a0I’m sure I’m not the only person wishing they could be part of the amazing energy blessing this historical city. \u00a0For a peek inside, visit\u00a0Chef Ryan Boudreaux<\/a>‘s website where you’ll find all kinds of interesting info about the food and music of Mardi Gras and other New Orleans history, traditions, and landmarks.<\/p>\n

Louisiana is known for foods with intriguing names such as jambalaya, gumbo, and \u00e9touf\u00e9e. \u00a0The origin of \u00a0word jambalaya<\/a> is most commonly thought to come from the French word \u00a0for ham, jambon<\/em>, and the West African word for rice, ya<\/em>, joined together with the French contraction “a la” <\/em> (meaning in the style of).<\/p>\n

There are two kinds of jambalaya: Creole Jambalaya and Cajun Jambalaya. Creole Jambalaya originated in the European sector of the French Quarter and includes tomatoes. \u00a0It was an attempt by Spanish settlers to recreate their beloved paella<\/em> using tomatoes as a substitute for the saffron which was not readily available in the New World. Cajun Jambalaya\u00a0originates from the low, lying rural swamp areas of Louisiana and is known as “Brown Jambalaya” in New Orleans – tomatoes are not used in Cajun Jambalaya. You can read more about the origins of Jambalaya here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Jambalaya<\/p>\n

Buy organic ingredients whenever you can and chicken that is labeled “raised without antibiotics and not fed animal by-products” such as this brand called “Smart Chicken”. This recipe includes the “trinity” of onions, green bell peppers, and celery.<\/p>\n

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