Jumbalaya

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 package smoked chicken sausage
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of flour
• 1 (16 ounce) can crushed Italian tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/4 cups uncooked white rice
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth

Directions
1. Heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil in a large heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the with Cajun seasoning. Saute sausage until browned. Remove with slotted spoon, and set aside.

2. In the same pot, melt butter and add flour to make a rue (this is your thickening agent). Sauté onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic until tender. Stir in crushed tomatoes and season with red pepper, black pepper, salt, hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in sausage. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.

Ella Grace: 17 Months

My big girl! This spunky little thing is such a bright spot in our lives. She is incredibley loving and thoughtful. Jack is her favorite person these days. She hugs him every morning when she first sees him. He's patiently teaching her to play cars, transformers and light sabers. He doesn't even mind when she brings Minnie or Dolly to the party. Ella broke the 20 lb mark this month and now weighs 21.2lbs! She loves anything with cheese- a girl after my own heart. 

More Compassion, Less Judgement

Being judgmental can drain us. Having compassion and empathy restores and increases our energy and our sense of well-being. It helps us want to move toward others and allows others to move toward us. During this holiday season, when we are surrounded by family and friends, we should all try to be more tolerant and empathic to our differences and check some of our judgments both of others and of ourselves at the door. Be mindful of the tendency to be judgmental and find humor and acceptance the kaleidoscope of human foibles that make up our world.

Flashback Friday: 1982

In the spirit of prepping our Christmas cards, I thought this would be appropriate. My sister Amy is about to turn 2, I am almost 4 and our cousin David is 6 months old. My grandmother purchased our matching outfits and had photo Christmas cards been sent in 1982, I'm pretty sure my parents would have sent this one. 

Thankful

Thanksgiving....a time to reflect on the wonderful things in my life. I am so very thankful for my husband, children, family, friends, health and job. I have everything I need in life and more.

This year we are headed to the fire station to visit the hubby while he works and I am prepping some of the food for our Thanksgiving celebration on Friday. It will be small this year, just the fireman, the kiddos and Papa Joe. Jack and I made some cut-out cookies in the shapes of pumpkins and turkeys. I also made a pumpkin pie. I love cooking so tomorrow I will be in heaven.