Jambalaya

I love this! When my husband is out of town I often make a pot of jambalaya and eat it for days. I love its spiciness and heartiness, and it's so easy.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 cups chicken broth

1 14-1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

8 ounces andouille or kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch slices

3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice

1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 bay leaf

1 cup cubed cooked ham

DIRECTIONS:

Thaw shrimp, if frozen; set aside. In a 6 quart stock pot cook onion, celery, sweet pepper and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in chicken broth, undrained tomatoes, sausage, rice thyme, basil pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Stir in shrimp. Return to boiling. Simmer, covered, about 5 minutes more or until shrimp turn opaque and rice is tender. Stir in ham; heat through. Discard bay leaf.

*I use low fat turkey sausage.