Whatever's in the fridge Jambalya

You can use, leftover cooked chicken, ham, bacon, sausage, turkey, steak (in Maine we add Shrimp in season) or any combination of the above! (If you like hot sausage, add it in!-this includes the cheapest kind to the more extravagant andouille, linguica or chaurice)

Don't let the quantities mess you up, there really is no science and everyone loves mine and I just throw whatever I have that could be getting old in the fridge.

If everything is cooked all ready, I just throw them in a stock pot and warm them up, if I have some uncooked stuff around, I cook it up and drain it, then add everything else in to warm it up.

Then saute your tired vegetables like,
Onion, leeks, scallions, shallots
Peppers, any bell will do
garlic - 3-6 cloves - depending on how you much you like garlic
chopped celery
tomatoes (I use whatever I have-even if they are a bit shriveled) depending on how many tomatoes you have, you may want to have a can of diced tomatoes on the side - to add later, if you think you need it.

Add RICE:
If you have some cooked rice hanging around use it, if not 2 cups of cooked rice (I LOVE Basmati, the taste and how it stands up being used as leftovers) some people use Uncle Ben's - I don't love that because it is really starchy, but it is an easy option. I will tell you not to use Minute Rice- if you use it, don't plan on using this as leftovers or it will become mush.

For Spicy option:, ONLY if you and the people are feeding like it with ZIP-if you have spicy sausage all ready in there, keep this in mind.

Zippy seasoning blend (I use: 1 teaspoons cayenne, 1 teaspoons black pepper, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon thyme to taste (or 2 - 3 tablespoons); 2 bay leaves

Vegetarians: I have vegetarian friends that do not use any meat at all. They add spinach, olives and sometimes tofu chunks, as well as the veggies they love but they use BROWN or long grain rice instead of white. It tastes really good!

It is nearing St. Patricks Day, then it is time for Guiness Recipes

So my gal pals & I sitting around talking about recipes and I couldn't believe I didn't have any Guinness Recipes Posted! I have been experimenting with Guinness for years. Had a buddy that always brought 4 over to my house and only drank 1 - I don't drink Guiness -so I used Guinness in Baked Beans, Stews and even in cake!

Here we are saving the best for FIRST! My friend Katy (yes she is 21!!) loves cupcakes so this is adapted for her! These are dense.

Cake or Cupcakes!
Preheat Oven 350

This is rich, but basic. The Guinness (or other stouts) make it rich and dark.

MAKES (8-10 in) cake or 12 standard muffins. 6 Mondo muffins

Ingredients:
2 sticks (8 oz) unsalted butter
1/2 t baking powder
1 1/2C soft brown sugar
2 t baking soda
4 eggs, beaten
1 can stout (Guinness)
1 C all purpose flour
1/4c cocoa powder
1/2c semi sweet choco chips or other dark chocolate you may like. (melted)

Put Butter in (8-10 in) deep cake tin, or line muffin pan with butter or cupcake papers. Set aside.

Cream together the butter with the soft brown sugar.
Gradually add the beaten eggs.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda.

Melt the chocolate chips, mix in the stout with the cocoa powder.

Add the flour and stout mixes alternately to the butter and eggs until completely incorporated. It should be smooth.

For Cake:
Spoon into the prepared pan & bake in the oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until cake tester comes out clean.

For Cupcakes:
Spoon into cupcake/muffin pans and bake for 45-60 minutes.

Some people cover with a piece of parchment paper if they look like they may be iover browning.

Allow to cool before removing .

Cheers! I like to garnish with powdered sugar! Num, Num!

Other Variations

When you pour a glass of stout there is a foamy head on top. You can do exactly the same with this cake.

Melt 1/4 if butter and add of grated white chocolate or semi sweet or dark chocolate shavings and pour on top. If you are feeling really irish you can add 2 shots of whiskey, let cool and you have some icing ready to spread on the cupcakes or cake.

Stout Pudding:
Crumble cake and spoon into some martini glasses.
Pour half and half or cream on top, some people like to garnish with raspberries, strawberries or cherries.

WICKED GOOD Amaretto Brownies (thanks, Tyler Florence)

Ingredients
* 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for pan
* 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* Pinch salt
* 4 large eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
* 1 1/2 cups walnuts (optional)
* Powdered sugar, for garnish

How to:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a 9 by 9 square baking pan with parchment paper, making sure paper hangs over the edges. Grease paper with butter so the brownies don't stick. Melt butter and chocolate over a double-boiler and stir gently until smooth and shiny. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl and set aside. Whisk together eggs, sugar and amaretto in a mixing bowl until combined. Pour in chocolate mixture and continue to whisk until combined. Gradually add flour mixture, then add walnuts and incorporate with a wooden spoon. Transfer batter to baking pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the pan. When done, invert onto a cutting board, remove paper and cut into squares. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve.