Yum Yum Wednesday – Jambalaya

Hi Everyone,

I know Mardi Gras was yesterday, and I am sure some of you maybe still celebrating.  I heard stories about what goes on in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and one day I plan on being there during the celebration.  🙂  To keep up with the celebration, I am bringing back one of my favorite Southern Dishes, Jambalaya!  I love this Jambalaya!  It’s one of the only Cajun dishes I can get my Husband to eat.  It’s loaded with shrimp and sausage and has the perfect amount of heat.  To boot this thick hearty stew is only 168 calories a serving!  I kid you not, this is one amazing dish!!!  Here is the Recipe.

As part of Yum, Yum Wednesday, I have a few products that I reviewed.

First up is Vermont Smoke and Cure Turkey RealSticks. These are like Slim Jims, but so much better for you. I enjoy having these as an afternoon snack. I have only tried the pepperoni flavor so far and I love it! They are Made from all-natural, humanely raised turkey. They come in Turkey Ancho, Turkey Honey Mustard and Turkey Uncured Pepperoni. I was a little bit afraid of trying it, but then I took one bite and I was sold! They taste just like a Slim Jim, but turkey! I love them! Plus they are only 70 calories!  RealSticks are free of gluten and artificial additives of any kind – no antibiotics, no hormones, no sodium nitrite, no preservatives, no soy and no MSG.Vermont Smoke and Cure Turkey RealSticks™ are available at independent and natural-foods stores, select Whole Foods Markets, specialty outdoor retailers, and online at www.vtsmokeandcure.com.

Next up is The Republic of Tea’s new HiCaf Gingermint Green Tea. This tea has a nice subtle flavor. Not real minty and not a lot of ginger, but a perfect balance. Honestly, I would have liked it to have a little more of a mint flavor, just because mint tea is my favorite, but I do like this tea!  It has higher caffeine then normal tea, but not quite as much as a cup of coffee, so I didn’t get jitters from it. I add a pinch of honey to it and have as my afternoon pick-me up.  You can check out the tea here.

Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Organic Quinoa! I love this quinoa! All I do is take it out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave for 4 minutes and it’s done. It comes with two bags in the box and each bag has two servings, which is a cup. Each cup has 140 calories. I use it in my morning breakfast jar parfait if I don’t have oatmeal. I also use it to sprinkle on my salads or have it as a quick side dish with a pinch of butter, salt and pepper. I like this because it’s quick and tastes just like homemade. I think it was $2.99 a box, but I can’t remember. You can find it at Trader Joe’s in the freezer isle.

Healthy Solutions Spice Blends. Healthy Solution Health Blends are unique blends of quick and easy herb and spice combinations. Each blend allows you to make gourmet meals in a fraction of the time of traditional methods. I have 4 flavors of the blend, Bold Beef Rub, Pork and Poultry Rub, Ultimate Burger, Authentic Chili/Tacos. I used the Bold Beef Rub for our steaks that we grilled and we really enjoyed the flavor. It gave our steak a slightly garlic and onion flavor. It was perfect. I have yet to try the other flavors, but I am looking forward to the Ultimate Burger flavor. These spices and rubs are perfect for barbecuing season. Healthy Solutions is available mostly on the East Coast, but are available in select stores in California. You can also order online. Here is the website.

Next up is Trader Joe’s Pomegranate Vinegar! Oh my gosh I love it! It is tangy with the perfect taste of pomegranate. I just drizzle it on my salads, no oil, just a little bit of vinegar. This will make a wonderful marinade for chicken and also salad dressing. Maybe make a reduction sauce with it and use it with pork. The possibilities are endless.

Last up on my product reviews is SO Delicious Coconut Yogurt! I have tried a lot of coconut yogurt and this is by far the best! I have tried the plain and the unsweetened vanilla. The plain is only 100 calories a cup and the unsweetened vanilla is only 120 calories a cup and they both contain 8 grams of fiber! 8 grams!!!! I love it! The unsweetened vanilla flavor has the most wonderful vanilla flavor and I don’t taste coconut. Plus SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Yogurt is gluten-free and contains active and live cultures. SO Delicious is also Non-GMO. I would have made a recipe with the yogurt, but I kept eating it! I need to buy more. You can check out SO Delicious Dairy Free yogurt here.

My last item is SO Delicious Mini’s Non-Dairy Coconut Milk frozen dessert bars. I have to tell you these did not last in my house! I fell in love with the Just Java bars. Oh my gosh, how I want one now! It had the perfect coffee flavor with a hint of chocolate. Pure coffee heaven for me! I also tried strawberry and Fudge Bars. They are called Mini’s but really they are pretty decent size and only 80 calories for each Mini. On some nights, I ate two bars. I had to control myself from eating a whole box. The bars are creamy and have the perfect flavors! The strawberry reminds me of my Strawberries and Cream frappe. So good! Oh and get this, my Husband loved the Fudge Bars. Kind of shocking considering that they are made with coconut milk and my Husband doesn’t care for coconut milk, and he had no idea it was coconut. He just took one from the freezer and ate it. You don’t taste the coconut. I can tell you that these bars are on my grocery list. They are the perfect guilt-free after dinner dessert. You can find SO Delicious frozen treats and yogurt at your local grocery store. You can also go online here.

Well that’s it for another edition of Yum Yum Wednesday!

Have a wonderful day and if you try something new, tell me about it!

Toodles,

Jennifer