Son of a Gun, We're Gonna Have Big Fun....

How many of you grew up watching Justin Wilson's cooking show?  I couldn't understand a word he said, but I liked to watch his show. Maybe watching his show is what made me like Cajun/Creole cooking so much - maybe it's Bourbon street - who knows?  I do know that Cajun food is some of my favorite.

Tonight's Feature Recipe at Table 4 Five:

Quick & Easy Jambalaya

1 box Spanish Rice Rice a Roni
2 cups chicken broth
1 pound cooked shrimp tails off
1 pound cooked chicken cubed
1 pound cooked andouille sausage, sliced into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup bell pepper
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
Creole Seasoning (to taste)
Red Pepper Flakes (to taste) (optional)


In a large skillet, brown Rice a Roni rice in olive oil - according to package directions. Add Rice a Roni seasoning packet, 2 cups chicken broth and the remaining ingredients to the rice mix.  Bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Yum Yum!

What to Take to the "Big Game"

The "Big Game" is next Sunday.  There are parties to go to and party food to make and take.  Are you one of those people who stops by the store and brings something that is already pre-made?  Way to take the easy way out!  Don't you feel guilty -even just a little.  I know we are all busy and it's very easy to grab a bag of chips and some French Onion dip while you're in the store getting a six pack of whatever barley included beverage you will partaking in during the "Big Game"

I found this wonderful no cook salsa that is very easy to make.  You should bring this to the Big Game party.  Won't you feel so much better?

Easy No Cook Salsa

2 cans 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1/4 cup thinly diced onion

1/4 cup parsley or cilantro

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tsp Green Pepper jelly

hot sauce to taste

Drain tomatoes reserving 1/4 cups liquid. Combine tomatoes and juice with remaining ingredients; cover and chill at least 4 hours.   Serve with tortilla chips

So quick and easy - good Super Bowl Party food.  Add to the recipe to make it as hot as you want.  This is so quick, easy, simple, yummy - last minute party food!!

And now I have provided you with some party food you can take to watch the football game on tv?

Easy Pleasey!

I'm learning with this bloggery commitment that even if I'm not going to be home for dinner, I still have to prepare something for the rest of the table.  Today was one of those days.  I wasn't supposed to be home for dinner, so I needed something quick, yummy, and easy.  Solution - Quesadillas.

You can make quesadillas out of just about anything.  Mix meat, veggies, cheese.  Put in tortilla and bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes. Can it get any easier?

Tonight at Table 4 Five, we had Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas and Salmon Quesadillas.

Mumbo Gumbo

Some of my favorite recipes are those with a small number of ingredients.  I also love those that don't require me to dirty a lot of dishes, pots and pans.  I did the menu planning and grocery shopping for the next seven days of this 2011 experience, and my focus was on fast and easy and few ingredients.  All of my recipes come from the cookbook Favorite Brand Name 4 Ingredient Cookbook...Fast & Easy Recipes.  Some recipes may be modified from what the book may suggest.

Tonight I made Chicken Gumbo - 4 ingredient chicken gumbo! No, it wasn't authentic New Orleans style gumbo, but it was still good.  The best part about this recipe was that I only used one pot, and it only took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Chicken Gumbo

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch piece
1 package chicken smoked sausage cut into 3/4 inch slices
1 12 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables with broccoli, corn and red peppers
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add chicken and sausage and cook until browned, about 8 minutes.

Add vegetables, tomatoes and water; bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 3 minutes.