Dad’s Jambalaya

I am so excited to share that I got my grubby little paws on my dad’s jambalaya recipe. Jambalaya is one of my FAVORITE meals ever and I finally have been present to observe the process from behind the curtain. Marky Mark makes some edits to the recipe – like doing half sweet half hot sauage – you could do 2LB of one or the other if you prefer. He stressed that the most important part of the recipe is making your own chicken broth, or ‘liquid gold’ as he calls it. Plan for two days to make this, so you can make the broth the day before. Makes about 8-10 servings but I don’t recommend sharing. I also highly recommend asking your loved ones for their recipes, food strengthens connections.

Ingredients

Chicken Broth:

  • 1 small fryer chicken
  • 1 rib celery with leaves
  • 1 onion, halved
  • 1 clove garlic

Jambalaya:

  • 2 cups long grain rice
  • 1 LB Ground Italian sausage
  • 1 LB Ground Hot Sausage
  • ½ stick butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 large bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon thyme
  • 2 teaspoons salt.
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Tabasco
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • Shredded chicken

Let’s Get Cooking

In a large pot, cover chicken with water; add celery, onion, garlic; boil until tender, about 1 hour. Reserve stock.

Remove chicken meat from bones once cooled and reserve. In 5 cups stock, cook rice until all liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.

In a Dutch oven, cook the ground sausage until cooked thoroughly about 5-8 minutes. Remove meat. Add butter to pan and sauté onion, pepper, and parsley until tender, about 3 minutes. Add chicken abd sausage; stir in garlic, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, salt, pepper, and Tabasco. Add cooked rice and mix thoroughly. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, sitrring frequently.

Remove the bay leaf and serve.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza

I have this Habanero Hot Honey from Akron Honey and I have been dying to use it! Akron honey is a local business that has the best honey & I love their seasonal flavors. I knew I wanted to make a pizza with it but I wanted to go a little extra with it. I got some inspiration for a Nashville Hot Chicken pizza but I decided that I wanted to make it my way. My way includes brining the chicken breast in pickle juice for 4-6 hours, a ranch base for the sauce, and using a homemade sourdough crust. If you want to make your own crust be sure to start a day early!

Ingredients

The Chicken

  • 1 Chicken Breast, cubed
  • 1 Cup Pickle Juice
  • 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 Cup Milk
  • 2 TSBP Your Favorite Hot sauce
  • 2 Cups Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1/2 TBSP Chili Powder
  • 1/2 TBSP Paprika
  • 1/2 TBSP Garlic Powder
  • Salt & Pepper

The Pizza

Let’s Get Cooking

Brine your chicken breast in pickle juice for 4-6 hours.

Afterwards, Rinse and cube. Prep your dredge. In one bowl, combine flour + salt + pepper + chili powder paprika + garlic powder. In another bowl, whisk together egg, milk, and hot sauce. Finally, pour the panko bread crumbs onto a plate.

Time to dredge your chicken. Start by dredging the chicken in flour, then the egg mixture, and finally, in the panko. Once all coated, place on a lined baking sheet and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

After the 30 minutes, air fry the chicken in batches at 400F for 15-20 min. Once all cooked, toss in the Nashville hot sauce.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Place your pizza dough on a prepared pan. Spread ranch on the dough, then add sliced red onions, the cooked chicken, pickles, and blue cheese crumbles. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle over the hot honey & extra Nashville hot sauce.

Resist the temptation and wait a few moments before biting into this deliciousness so you don’t burn off your taste buds!

Made with Love,

Hannah

Spicy Potsticker Soup

My dog, more like little brother, Cooper crossed the rainbow bridge early in December. I am so grateful for the 15 years we spent together but it has not made the loss any less devastating. My grief brain has made it hard to complete any one task and I end up looking lost with many unfinished projects. Cooking is always something that is grounding for me and though it has taken some time to get my appetite back, there is nothing like a comforting soup when you are feeling sad. This spicy potsticker soup was helpful for me to take some time to care for myself and it was not a complicated recipe for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 3 TBSP Sesame Oil
  • 2 TSP Fish Sauce
  • 1 Bok Choy, greens chopped
  • 2 Shallots, chopped
  • 1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms
  • 2 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Inch Fresh Ginger, peeled and grated
  • 6 Cups Chicken Broth
  • 3 TBSP Soy Sauce
  • 2 TBSP Rice Vinegar
  • 20-30 Frozen Wontons/Dumplings/Potstickers
  • Chili Oil, I love Lao Gan Ma

Let’s Get Cooking

Heat 2 TBSP sesame oil over MED-HIGH heat in a large pot, add in the bok choy and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove and transfer to a plate

Add the remaining 1 TBSP of sesame oil to the same pot. Add in the mushrooms + shallots + garlic + ginger. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Add in the wontons and cook until the float, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the bok choy + soy sauce + rice vinegar + fish sauce. Remove from heat.

Serve in bowls and top with the chili oil.

Made with Love,

Hannah

Cracked Pepper Pasta with Spicy Sausage, Spinach, & Sundried Tomatoes

I have been scrounging around in my kitchen because I do not have the motivation to do a full grocery hull even though I should. Instead, I have been attempting to make new creations out of the ingredients I have and this may be one of my favorite things I have come up with. This cracked pepper pasta is perfect for a weeknight meal or meal prep for the week! This recipe is written out as a single serving as I am a single person so feel free to tweak as needed!

Ingredients

  • 1 Serving Pasta of your choosing, cook per package instructions
  • 1 Hot Italian Sausage Link
  • 1.5 TBSP Black Pepper Boursin Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Spinach
  • 1 TBSP Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Reserved Pasta Water
  • Salt + Pepper

Let’s Get Cooking

Cook your pasta per package instructions, reserve 1/2 Cup of pasta water.

In a large skillet brown your sausage, making sure to break it down into small pieces. Once mostly browned add in the 1 TBSP of sun-dried tomatoes.

When the sausage is fully cooked add in the reserved pasta water + 1/2 cup spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted. Stir in the 1.5 TBSP of bourisn cheese and simmer until the sauce as thicked.

Stir in your pasta and ensure that it is fully coated.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Made with Love,

Hannah