Jambalaya

Sheet Pan Roasted Jambalaya

March 31, 2017

A couple of weeks ago, maybe even last month because I can’t honestly remember at the moment and I’m far too lazy to dig in and get the information, I posted a recipe for Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Thighs, do you remember? Aside from how amazing the flavors were in this particular dish, the greatest thing about it was the fact that it was super easy to whip up, which made it the perfect meal to make when you’re very tired and just don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen slaving away. The entire dish, this one included, is cooked by tossing everything together onto a heavy duty baking sheet, throwing it into the oven and forgetting about it. I’m bringing this up because that post went over so well with many of you, and so I thought that I should definitely make another sheet pan dinner recipe for you guys. This one is inspired by my monthly trips to New Orleans to work with my friend Joy.

The thing you have to keep in mind when going into this Sheet Pan Roasted Jambalaya recipe is that it’s inspired by the traditional Cajun dish, but not actually the same as the original. It’s a play on the dish. This one isn’t very sauce-y or soup-y at all. Instead it features all of the classic ingredients like onion, celery, bell pepper, andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp and rice, and it’s all roasted on a baking sheet like a fried rice of sorts. This is a great way to use up leftover rice you might have in the fridge from a couple nights ago. This is especially good for me because I never know what to do with my leftover rice from dinner. I finally found a great way to use it up. Help me Cheers to the Weekend by giving this sheet pan dinner a try!

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Jambalaya Pot Pie

January 27, 2016

To celebrate the fact that I’m in New Orleans for the rest of the week, I bring to you this Jambalaya Pot Pie. It’s exactly what you think it is. Jambalaya meets chicken pot pie and they immediately go on a date, because everyone needs love. They hit it off right from the start, and can’t get enough of each other. Then one thing leads to another and before you know it…BOOOM…out comes this mega fusion crazy dish. It has all the makings of a traditional jambalaya, which happens to be one of my favorite Cajun dishes, but with a chicken pot pie look and feel to it. It’s what you serve for dinner when company is coming over and you want to impress them. Or what you serve your family when you’re bored and tired of the normal week to week meals you always make. Step out of the box and spice things up a bit. The people of New Orleans would want you to let loose. I want you to let loose. Explore more in the kitchen. You owe it to yourself.

I’m in New Orleans this week for a couple of reasons. One of which is to eat and drink as much as possible (that should go without saying, though). Whenever I make a trip out here, I have this constant internal struggle of wanting to eat everything in sight, and never having enough time (or space) to eat everything I’d like to. I do try my best though and give it all I have. Most importantly, I’m here to visit and get some work done with my friend Joy—we’re working on her next cookbook (the woman is a machine I swear to you). She’s doing all the work, I’m just here to photograph it, and convince her to stop working so we could get a drink.

I wanted to make sure we could all somehow enjoy the Big Easy together, so I thought the best way to go about this, is to share a New Orleans inspired recipe. In case you’re in need of more Cajun recipes to fuel you for the week, I’ve got you covered. This Jambalaya Pizza is calling out your name for your Friday night festivities. Friday night pizza party anyone? Red beans and rice is my second favorite New Orleans dish and I’ve gone ahead and turned it into portable pastries with these Red Beans and Rice Empanadas. You better believe that I’ll be eating an unhealthy amount of po’boys while I’m here, so why don’t you join me? These Fried Shrimp Po’boy Sliders are hard to resist. Need an excuse to drink in the morning? Don’t we all. These Good Morning Margaritas are inspired by a great restaurant in NOLA, called Elizabeth’s.

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Jambalaya Pizza: An Ode to New Orleans

April 10, 2015

New Orleans has got to be one of my all time favorite cities to visit. It’s up there with San Fransisco and New York. Very touristy of me to pick those three, but I can’t help it. It’s funny because I was born and raised in a touristy city myself and yet, I take it for granted. I drive down Hollywood all the time and I see all of the people there taking photos and I think to myself, “Why would anyone want to visit this place?” I wonder if that’s how locals in places like NY, SF and NOLA feel as well. New Orleans is such a beautiful place to explore, though. It’s filled with friendly people and there are so many things to see. It can be overwhelming at first, but once you get used to all of the people (mainly in the French Quarter) it becomes a completely different experience. I’ve had the opportunity to go a few times now, and I’m so thankful for it. It’s been an equal amount of work and play and the best part of it all is that I get to catch up and work with my friend and fellow cat Joy. I was so sad when she moved, but it’s given me the chance to visit a city I probably never would’ve before.

The city will always have this spooky feeling, for me. And it’s not only because of the ghost tours going on throughout the French Quarter. That’s only part of it. I think it has to do with the fact that the city itself is just so old and full of history. It probably doesn’t help that Joy told me a ghost story the second I saw her on my first visit. Aside from the ghosts and voodoo though, it’s an incredible city with amazing food. The food is really what sets it apart. I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but it never felt right or complete to me, until now. I think I just needed the perfect recipe to go along with it.

Julian has tagged along with me on a couple of visits now. We celebrated his recent birthday in New Orleans and let’s just say birthdays and New Orleans are the perfect match. We basically ate and drank our way through the city, much like we always do everywhere we go. We did all of the touristy things like eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde and drank all of the Bloody Marys for breakfast (through brunch). Yet some of our favorite things weren’t all that grand. Like walking in the rain from one part of the city to the other. Or drinking a few Breakfast Margaritas at an out-of-the-way joint.

I think it’s important to go out and explore a city you’ve never been to before and visit places that are off the beaten path. You don’t know what you might find, plus it’s always great to ask the locals where they go because those places are always 1 million times better than where everyone else goes. You don’t even have to spend money on travel. Go out and explore your own city. Make an effort to try restaurants you’ve never tried or drive down to a nearby city you’ve never visited. Do some research online and go out on an adventure. Put yourself in a tourist’s shoes and see your city as if it’s the first time you’re experiencing it. I guarantee you’ll have a lot of fun and might even discover a few things.

What are some of your favorite cities to visit? I want to know! Leave a comment down below with your favorite city with the best restaurant, dish or drink you’ve ever had while visiting. I’d love to read all about it. Or just tell me about a local spot you always go to where you live. I’m always looking for great suggestions! Julian and I are obsessed with a sushi place in Los Angeles that we go to every Thursday. Is it a problem if everyone in the restaurant remembers you and knows exactly what you’ll order? I think it’s kind of cool to have a place like that. If you’re ever in Los Angeles I can give you the longest list of things to do and things to eat while you’re here.

Last year I wrote a post similar to this one, the first installment in a series I didn’t even think about doing at the time. Now it kind of makes sense and I think it’ll be fun to continue with the theme. Sausage and Pickled Jalapeño Pizza: An Ode to San Fransisco was my pizza obsession for the longest time after my last trip to The Golden Gate City. I tried to replicate a pizza pie I devoured there, as best I could. Julian called me the other day, after work, convinced he had just come up with the greatest pizza idea ever, he suggested Jambalaya Pizza to me and it all sort of made sense after that. An ode to New Orleans was a must.

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Jambalaya

October 10, 2012

Gone are the long summer days with scorching three digit weather. The heat beating down on our barely-clothed bodies is now behind us. It is in the past. We say goodbye to artificial cold air better known to us as the AC. We bid adieu to shorts, skirts and tanks. Sunglasses we break them. Bathing suits we toss them. Flip flops we trash them. Maybe I exaggerate and we do not go to such extremes but we just put them in the closet far away from sight. We pull out such luxuries as coats, scarves, gloves and knitted socks. For us Southern Californian’s these are luxuries because we take them out for a day and then we are forced to retire them as quickly as we brought them out. But we are not complaining. We will take what we can get. We grab whatever is given to us when it is given to us. We welcome with open arms shorter days with cooler weather. Those overcast mornings and chilly nights. The sun is no longer our arch nemesis—trying to kill us—rather we are excited to see it. The sun is now our friend. We look up and even give it a smile from time to time when we spot it peeking through the clouds. Its rays warming and lighting the way, not heating and killing.

Autumn has finally arrived. It has presented itself at the perfect time. The most opportune moment. Just when we thought that summer was going to murder us with its excessive heat, the Fall came and relieved with its brilliant colors and decadent aroma. Yes, there is an aroma to Autumn. Walk outside at five in the evening—just when the sun is beginning its slow descent— take one giant whiff. Devour all that Autumn has to offer. Inhale that chilly breeze. The leaves changing colors, they begin to fall and swirl down to the ground. As you walk back home, admire the environment all around you. Remove your hat and tip your head to your neighbors passing by walking their dogs. The warmth from the houses down the street, to the left and right of you is contagious. Their doors are closed keeping the cold air out and the warm happiness in. The yellow light within, seeps through the curtained windows, casting a glow onto their garden. Onto their lawn. Onto their picket fence. It barely reaches you, but it’s enough to make you smile. You tighten your scarf closer around your neck and you continue your walk back home taking in all your surroundings.

As you walk home wearing your warm pants, heavy coat, scarf, gloves and beanie, you begin to be thankful that summer is over. No longer because of the heat and worrying about staying cool, but rather you are thankful because of something entirely different. Something entirely selfish. You stop in your tracks. Right there in the middle of the sidewalk, halfway home, you stall. You do a little jump kick out of sheer enthusiasm for you have just realized that you no longer have to eat super healthy and watch your figure because you have to dip into a bathing suit. Gone are the bikini days that summer brings with it. Happy are you for finally being able to eat buckets full of carbs and comfort food to your heart’s content. I cannot help but think that this is the cycle of life. You spend spring worrying and exercising for summer. And then you spend autumn and winter eating and not worrying. Then spring comes around and it starts up again. Perhaps I’m just projecting. Whatever the case might be, you begin to walk again, but this time you walk with a bounce in your step and a grand idea on your mind. The temperature has dropped and it could be perfect for a soup. But you do not want to make soup for dinner tonight. No, you want something special. You yearn for something heartier. Something more filling. You want to fill your house with wonderful smells from spices and fresh herbs. You shall make a Jambalaya. Because you want to bring that Southern cajun-creole excitement into your home.

Here’s what you will need.

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