Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. Not only is it a fun word to say, but it’s also delicious. Most jambalaya recipes call for a fish and a protein or two proteins like sausage and chicken. However you make it, it’s true comfort food.
Most of the jambalaya recipes I reviewed not only have a variety of spices, but also have common ingredients like bell peppers, rice, onions, celery, and tomatoes. Look at the different pieces or “ingredients” of your life: pack the kids’ school lunches, make the beds, prepare reports, go to meetings, feed the dog, and mow the lawn. So why blog about jambalaya? The reason is that whatever you do, the dish comes out spicy and who doesn’t want to spice up life? How about adding spices to your “ingredients in your life”? One idea is to liven up kids’ lunches by cutting their sandwiches into different shapes or adding a unique item that doesn’t look like lunch. You can also include a note or put a small gift like stickers on their lunch boxes.
At work, host a walk-in meeting or hire a masseuse to do chair massages for your team. You can also bring treats like bagels or edible arrangements. During some of the meetings you host, don’t talk at all. Tell your team that you are just there to observe and see the different ways they behave. When leading the meeting, use different types of visuals instead of the same PowerPoint presentations. Start the session by asking them which superhero they would be and why. It makes people open up about themselves and everyone laughs a lot.
Even household chores can be spiced up. No one said you can’t dance while dusting or mowing the lawn. Walking the dog with a friend can not only be fun but healthy for both of you. For me, I’m not a fan of unloading the dishwasher, so sometimes when I have food cooking in the microwave, I try to see if I can put all the dishes away before the bell rings. Luckily I haven’t broken a plate yet.
Making a bed is also a mundane task. I always think of The Sound of Music when Julie Andrews lifts the sheet during the storm when all the kids were scared. I admit I’m the worst singer but who cares? “These are a Few of My Favorite Things” remains lively despite my voice and makes the task more bearable. My kids may not like it and my cats may howl, but once the bed is made I stop.
Doing a job search or writing a report are also things we dread doing. Try to “spice” them up by being more creative. Post a funny saying or cartoon on your desktop to remind yourself that this will pass and you just need to get over it. Also be sure to attach rewards to various tasks. Knowing that you are going to have a delicious plate of jambalaya with a glass of wine, salad and dessert when you are done is a great reward and will keep you focused and on track.
cajun jambalaya
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
Total time: 50 minutes
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
12 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
4 ounces chicken, diced
1 tablespoon of Creole seasoning, follow the recipe
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
3/4 cup of rice
3 cups of chicken broth
5 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced
salt and pepper
Emeril’s ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also known as Bayou Blast):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons of salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Addresses
In a bowl combine the shrimp, the chicken and the Creole seasoning, and work well in the seasoning. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over high heat with the onion, bell pepper, and celery, 3 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, Worcestershire and hot sauces. Add the rice and slowly add the broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rice absorbs liquid and softens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. When the rice is tender, add the shrimp and chicken mixture and the sausage. Cook until meat is done, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning.