What are you eating for Fat Tuesday?

Happy Mardis Gras/Fat Tuesday!  It's traditionally geared toward eating fatty, richer foods the day before the Lenten season begins (King Cake, anyone?).  But do we need to set aside a day to specifically indulge in unhealthy foods?  Why not find ways to make healthy foods taste great so we can eat them often, and occasionally indulge in less nutritious choices?

Here’s a quick recipe for a delicious skillet jambalaya that’s quick, nutritious, and will bring some New Orleans flavor into your house this Mardi Gras.  It won't be full of calories and fat but will pack in a bunch of veggies and whole grain.  And yes, it has sausage – but in small amounts that bring a powerful boost of flavor to this dish.  While I don’t usually add shrimp, you could easily add some of that to this dish too!

Skillet Jambalaya
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1-2 links (half a pound) of chorizo, casing removed and chopped into small pieces.
Cooking spray
1 chopped bell pepper of any color
1 chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 tsp chili powder
Cayenne pepper to taste
1 cup of chicken stock
1 cup of instant brown rice

Preparation:

1. Spray a skillet over medium heat with cooking spray.  Add chorizo, cook for 4-5 minutes until cooked through.  Remove chorizo into a bowl to hold.
   
2. Spray pan again.  Add chopped peppers, onion, and minced garlic; cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
3. Add can of tomatoes and seasonings.  Cook for another few minutes.
   
4. Add chicken stock and brown rice.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, let sit for a few minutes.  Taste rice to be sure it’s cooked to your liking (brown rice cooks slower than white rice, even the instant kind).

Enjoy!