Courtesy of Shelina Wardrope

JAMBALAYA – A CAJUN CLASSIC MADE SIMPLE

Courtesy of https://bit.ly/2SVWvdh

INGREDIENTS: 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes 3–4 cups chicken stock 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grain white rice 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound raw large shrimp, deveined 1 cup thinly-sliced okra 1 bay leaf

2 boneless chicken breasts, bite-sized 1 pound andouille sausage, thinly sliced 3 small bell peppers, cored and diced 2 ribs celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped 1 white onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage, sauté until chicken is cooked and sausage is lightly browned. Transfer to plate. 2. Add remaining oil, bell peppers, celery, jalapeño, onion and garlic. Sauté until the onions are softened. Add tomatoes, chicken stock, rice, Cajun seasoning, thyme, cayenne, bay leaf, and combine. Cook until simmering. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is nearly cooked. Add shrimp and okra, combine. Simmer, until shrimp is cooked. Stir in chicken and sausage. Remove from heat. Season with salt, pepper to taste. Enjoy!

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REAL ESTATE CANNOT BE LOST OR STOLEN, NOR CAN IT BE CARRIED AWAY. PURCHASED WITH COMMON SENSE, PAID FOR IN FULL, AND MANAGED WITH REASONABLE CARE, IT IS ABOUT THE SAFEST INVESTMENT IN THE WORLD. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

The 32 nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was at America’s helm during one of its most tumultuous periods; from the Great Depression and through most of the Second World War. Despite being crippled by polio, FDR’s leadership took the nation out of the doldrums of the Depression and turned it into the so-called ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ to help defeat the Axis powers. He tragically died only months from the conclusion of hostilities.

GARDENING IN SEPTEMBER HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE APPEAL

For the avid gardener September can be a very busy month. This is when harvest is underway, as such your home will benefit from the hard work you've put in. But there are many things you can do to keep your garden viable and healthy after the harvest. 1. General Garden Clean Up: Reduce the negative impact of bugs and blights on your garden. Take the time to pick up any rotting fruit, dead vines or diseased leaves. Don’t give insects a nice warm home over the winter, clean up that rotting debris now to head off issues next spring. 2. Improving The Soil Quality: A better growing medium will result in a better garden – September is the ideal time to make sure your soil is the best it can be. Once you’ve completed your clean up, spread your accumulated compost or rotted manure (two to three inches deep) over the surface of your garden. Turn it in, either manually or with a rototiller, to ensure it has a chance to mingle with the soil you presently have, adding to its richness. 3. Planting Flowering Bulbs for Spring: September is also a good time to plant hardy springtime flowering bulbs. Early blooming flowers, such as daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and even tulips can be planted now to provide that welcome burst of colour once the snows of winter finally melt. It’s even an easy job, dig a hole, drop in your bulb and cover with soil. Mother Nature will take care of the rest. Every region of the country is different, so take time to research a plan so that you can do what works best for you. Efforts made now will have lasting benefits in the coming months.