Chicken & Ham Jambalaya

Very delicious, good depth of flavor - vote came to 4 1/2 (2 fours, 2 fives). Just spicy enough to make a spice wimp nervous, but so good that they just keep eating.

I selected this recipe to use up some of the ham leftovers from Christmas. I omitted the chicken, modestly increased the vegetables (onion, celery, pepper), and kept all other ingredients at their suggested amounts. I also substitute red bell peppers for the green, vegetable stock for chicken stock, and short-grained brown rice for the Uncle Ben's.

In this recipe, you sauté onions, celery, pepper, then add garlic. After that you add liquids (tomato sauce, stock, mutha sauce (reviewed here), seasonings, and rice. You are instructed to simmer it over low heat for 25 minutes. I simmered for about 30 minutes, and then left the hot covered pot to sit on the stove for the day. When we came home, the rice was perfectly cooked, and the flavors had unified in a lovely way.

This is surprisingly kid friendly! Enjoyed by all.