4-ingredient Jambalaya

My sister says I need to submit this recipe to Family Circle. Ha-ha! It really is just four ingredients and it is super delicious!

4-Ingredient Jambalaya

2 cans diced tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. kielbasa (I used turkey kielbasa), sliced

Put all ingredients in a crockpot. Cook on low 6 - 8 hours. Enjoy. Serve over rice. Add some uncooked shrimp to the last 1/2 hour if you are feeling adventurous.

** The trick with the diced tomatoes is to buy seasoned diced tomatoes - for this recipe I used 1 can garlic and onion diced tomatoes and 1 can tomatoes with zesty chiles. I had to add nothing else for seasoning because the tomatoes had enough! Enjoy.

Chicken Vindaloo and Spiced Basmati Rice

This meal was devoured by the entire family - even the baby! It is not too spicy, but it has a lot of flavor.

Chicken Vindaloo

2 lbs. chicken, sliced thinly
1 c. ketchup
1 c. water
3 cloves garlic
2 medium onions, chopped
3 T. brown sugar
1 T. vinegar
2 t. ground ginger
1 T. curry powder
1/4 t. chili powder
2 T. cumin
1/2 c. chopped cilantro (garnish)

Mix ketchup, water, garlic, and all the spices together. Put onions and chicken in a crockpot. Cover with tomato mixture. Stir gently. Cook on high for 3 hours. Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro.

Spiced Basmati Rice
1 T. olive oil
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (remove seeds)
1 small onion, chopped
2 c. basmati rice
2 T. garam masala
1 t. salt
3 1/2 c. water

Sautee onion and pepper in a saucepan in the olive oil. Add the rice. Stir the rice to coat with olive oil. Add the water. Bring to a boil. Turn to simmer and add the garam masala and salt. Cook on low for about 20 minutes.

**If you love Indian food, you need to buy Garam Masala - many grocery stores carry it. It is just a combination of cardamom, cinnamon, and other spices. It really makes your Indian dishes special!

10 Minute Tortilla Soup

I kid you not! This soup really takes only 10 minutes to make - maybe 15. Ready, set, cook ....

TORTILLA SOUP

1 T olive oil (or so)
1 med. onion, chopped
2 gloves garlic, chopped
1 T. chili powder
2 t. salt
6 c. chicken broth
1 can diced green chiles
1 can corn (or 1 c. fresh or frozen kernels)
1 tomato, chopped
1 1/2 c. cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 c. cilantro leaves
the juice of 1 lime

1. Saute onion, garlic, chili powder, and salt. Cook about 5 minutes until onion softens. Add green chiles and chicken broth and bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes.

2. Add corn, tomato, chicken, cilantro and lime juice and heat through for a few minutes (2 to 3).

Enjoy! Serve over crushed tortilla chips with a wedge of lime for some extra flavor.

Marvelous Meatloaf ... Seriously

I know that meatloaf is not high on everyone's list of favorite foods - but I promise this one is great! My kids devour this.

2 lbs. ground angus (or some nice quality sirloin)
1 package Lipton onion soup mix
3/4 c. dry stuffing (Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned in the blue bag)
1 egg
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1 can tomato paste

Mix everything together with your hands! Form into a meatloaf and cook for almost 2 hours at 350.