You know what we love? Delicious no-bake desserts that we can make all summer long without overheating our kitchens and giving ourselves heat stroke. Seriously, baking anything when it’s hot out is a recipe for disaster, but it’s always sad when we get a hankering for something and then have to curb that craving because it’s too much of a hassle to make…which brings us to today’s recipe: no-bake strawberry cheesecake!!
To avoid having a mixture full of eggs that needs to bake (and then cool) in the oven, we use frozen whipped topping and gelatin as the thickening agents in this fruity cake. You start with a typical graham cracker crust – we prefer ours on the thicker side with this recipe – then you prep your gelatin by dissolving it in warm water. Purée your strawberries along with the gelatin blend, which will add stability to your tall cheesecake, and then mix everything together with your cream cheese mixture. This makes one, heaping cheesecake, or you could make two to three smaller cakes…but really, there’s no way you can go wrong here.
What we love about this lofty dessert is how impressive it is (in taste and appearance), without being too heavy. With some cheesecakes that are super rich, you take a couple bites and then feel like you can’t move. For better or for worse, that’s not the case here and you can just keep digging into this tasty confection! For a tasty dessert that looks just as lovely, this is the perfect option to keep in your back pocket all summer long.
This scrumptious New Orleans jambalaya recipe has been on my mind all month long! This weekend I’m packing my bags. On Monday morning I’m flying out to New Orleans!!! I feel so blessed to have been invited to mastermind with a wonderful group of creative women in one of the most festive cities in the USA. While I’m there I look forward to enjoying some authentic New Orleans jambalaya for dinner followed by a little bag of beautiful puffy beignets for dessert. I am so darn excited!
This yummy jambalaya recipe is a fabulous taste of New Orleans. What you’ll love most about preparing New Orleans jambalaya is that it’s an easy one-pot meal. I know that you and I are on the exact same page in looking for ways to free ourselves up so we can spend more quality time with our families. Life is fast-paced and hectic, so it’s more important than ever to find quick and easy recipes that will allow us to sit down at the table with our families and enjoy a delicious meal together. Spending time connecting with one another after a busy day keeps families bonded and tight, and encourages the doors of communication to remain wide open.
A traditional New Orleans Jambalaya recipe includes onions, garlic, Cajun seasonings, a bevy of bright colorful bell peppers, chicken, shrimp, and delicious smoked sausage.
For this mouth-watering New Orleans jambalaya recipe I use Eckrich Original Skinless Smoked Sausage. It’s naturally hardwood smoked with a true smokehouse taste. On other occasions you can mix things up with Polska Kielbasa Skinless Smoked Sausage, Original Natural Casing Smoked Sausage, and Polska Kielbasa Natural Casing Smoked Sausage. With all of these awesome choices available, it’s easy to make versatile family meals that are quick, satisfying and downright scrumptious.
Here are all the ingredients you’ll need to make a spectacular New Orleans jambalaya: olive oil, celery, red onion, bell peppers (I use a colorful blend of green, red, yellow and orange), garlic, jalapeno, boneless/skinless chicken breasts, Eckrich Smoked Sausage, shrimp, okra, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, long-grain rice and spices.
Because a store-bought jar of Cajun spices is not available everywhere, I love making my own homemade Cajun spice blend. It gives me the opportunity to dial up the heat when cooking for teens and adults that love spicy foods, or dial things down for family dinners with small children. My special Cajun spice mix includes easy-to-find spices that you may already have on hand: paprika, sea salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. I also use two bay leaves for this jambalaya recipe.
To make this New Orleans jambalaya a quick one-pot meal, I do a little prep work the night before. I chop up the celery, bell peppers, and onions and refrigerate them in a zippered plastic bag. I chop up the chicken, slice the sausage, remove the shrimp tails and put them each in a separate container. The next evening when I’m ready to prepare my quick and easy New Orleans jambalaya recipe it’s a snap to get dinner made, on the table, and ready to enjoy with the family.
Start by adding 2 tablespoons of oil to a large cast-iron pan that has a lid. If your cast-iron pan doesn’t have a lid you can use a Dutch oven or another type of large, heavy pan.
Add in the celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno.
Saute the veggies over medium-high heat until they just start to become tender. On my gas stovetop this process takes about 4 minutes flat.
Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and smoked sausage to the pan with the veggies. Continue to saute everything until the chicken is no longer pink and looks like it’s almost completely cooked. Ahhh…the delicious savory smells rising from your stovetop and floating through your kitchen will get everyone excited about eating jambalaya for dinner!
Add chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, rice, seasonings and two bay leaves. With a wooden spoon, stir everything together until well combined. Cover the pan with a lid, turn down the heat to medium-low and allow the ingredients to simmer, stirring every five minutes until the rice is tender and cooked. On my stovetop this takes 25 minutes. The reason I stir the rice often is to make sure it doesn’t start sticking to the bottom of the pan and burn.
Once the rice is done, fold the shrimp and okra into the mixture. Cover the pan again and allow the shrimp to cook until it’s no longer pink. This only takes about five minutes.
Your scrumptious jambalaya recipe is now complete! It’s time to garnish your jambalaya with a few sliced green onions, fresh parsley, and if you’d like – a few colorful slices of bell pepper.
Take a moment to stand back and truly admire your beautiful, festive New Orleans jambalaya! Soon it will be enjoyed by your family and you’ll be receiving a lot of compliments. If your family is anything like mine, there might not be any leftovers for the following day. But hey, that’s okay! The important thing about dinnertime with your family is having the opportunity to converse with one another in a meaningful way. My family likes to share stories of what happened that day, brainstorm ideas and problem solve, celebrate accomplishments, and basically just feel the love that expands between all of us around the table.
During the fall and winter seasons jambalaya is a warm, cozy, hearty meal that your family will absolutely love. This evening after my husband served himself a bowl of my yummy New Orleans jambalaya and took his first bite, he said “this is really great – I especially love the sausage!” I just smiled to myself because I knew the secret ingredient that makes this New Orleans jambalaya so incredibly special. It’s the inclusion of time-honored Eckrich Smoked Sausage.
For more recipe inspiration and easy 15- to 35-minute meal ideas, be sure to visit Everyday Meals by Eckrich.
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New Orleans Jambalaya Recipe > Your Thoughts
After preparing a quick and easy meal with Eckrich Smoked Sausage what will you do with your free time? Will you read a book with your children, spend more quality time with your teenagers, or cozy up with your husband and watch a movie? What do you think about this New Orleans Jambalaya recipe? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
(This pic is minus 1 bridesmaid but she was there in spirit!)
I know...it's been a long time since I've blogged but this reason deserves the all the effort!
I had my beautiful/amazing/spectacular/etc bridal shower on Aug. 29th and I couldn't be happier with it. I still smile about it :) I owe a million thanks to my bridesmaids and family for helping to make it the crazy party it was!
The theme was chosen waaay back in February: A Bride in Wonderland Bridal Shower. There was no negotiating or doubt in my mind--it was PERFECT for me! We started the hunt for the most essential things from that moment forward and it turned out better than I could have ever expected!
Here are some pics to swoon over. But if you'd like to see more, check out the photographer's website here. Password is Melissa.
These are Wonderland flowers created by sisters in law
Here is the 'Melissa in Wonderland' banner I created and had printed with Banners on the Cheap. This was meant to be the Photo Op area. It was a hit! (In case you need any banners made, try them out. Their customer service was great and they had the best prices on the net!)
This is the Marriage Advice tree. We spray-painted this tree and I made tiny Mad Hatter notes for guests to hang their best marriage advice for me. Some notes probably should not be posted because they might be a tad bit explicit but let's just say I learned what I need to know :)
This is the Flamingo table. We poked mushrooms into green astroturf.
This was a little surprise I made for the bridesmaids. I photoshopped them into the Alice in Wonderland movie poster! They are my Royal Court afterall!
This was the Clock table. I actually hit jackpot when I randomly found over-sized metal clock arms one day at Marshalls for $2!
Tea Party table setting! Grass runners, teapot centerpieces with feather & flower arrangements, grass balls with butterflies and topiaries! We also added potion bottles that had 'Drink Me' labels. On the tables were the favors for the guests: Colorful tea bags with 'Drink Me' tags, and chocolate bars with 'Eat Me' labels.
The teapot flower centerpieces were beautiful! My co-worker, who has a flower shop, helped arrange them and we're so grateful! There was no way they would have come out this nice if we would have done them ourselves. She was able to copy a photo my sister found online!
Lots of thought went into the food. My cousins and aunt prepared pretty tea sandwiches in heart, circle, and triangle shapes. They also made two of the most delish salads I've ever tried! Check here and here for recipes. And my FAVE were the Fairy Tale Mushrooms made out of egg halves, tomato halves. and feta cheese sprinkles!
The Dessert Station was insane! It was created by my bestie and bridesmaid Nicky who spent all her free time working on and it def paid off! She kept it a surprise from me! For months it was called the Mystery Project LOL! Just look at all the detail!
And yes, she actually made these chandeliers! So glam!
Don't miss the Alice in Wonderland Pop-Up book! It's a masterpiece! I'm sooo glad I got to keep it! :)
Here is the Candy Table also included with the Dessert Station. Apothecary jars filled with all-time favorites! Only a handful of gumballs were left!
The Beverage Table included a different type of tea...the kind from LONG ISLAND! White Sangria and sodas were also offered, as well as some of the cutest water bottles I've ever seen!
The first game was called "Down the Rabbit Hole". We had 2 teams for 4 people compete. A tiny stuffed rabbit is tied to a long string. The first person drops the rabbit down her dress, the second person takes that rabbit and does the same and so on. The catch? The rabbit has an ice pack center! When the last person is finished stuffing the rabbit down her dress, she has to pull it up and hand it to the next person to pull up and so on. The first team to get the rabbit in and out of all their dresses WINS! The winners of the game were Marina, Lisa, Denise, and Yams.
The second game was called "The Almost Newlywed Game" and we had a special guest appearance! The soon-to-be-hubby showed up for this one. We had answered 20 questions about each other on our own and had to show our answers to the public. 2 contestants had to decide if our answers would match or not. It was hilarious and kinda crazy how we barely had any of the same answers!
The third game was the Hot Potato Centerpiece Raffle. When the music stops, the person caught with the prickly bouncy ball is out!
I realize this is a very long post and yet there is so much more where this comes from! I had such a great time and I hope my guests did too! Let the celebration continue! On to the next party!
Can and should be halved for more modest, non-crazy pregnant woman portions 16oz cream cheese, room temperature 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup heavy cream, cold. Higher the fat content, the better (I'm using 40% Ultra)
Beat the cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream to nearly stiff peaks, then add the whipped cream into the cheese mixture and quickly and briefly beat to combine. Do not over beat.
Slap goose-egg sized portions of the whipped cream cheese onto your hot cinnamon rolls and consume with pregnant woman-like abandon.
This Molten Brownie Pudding made in your Instant Pot is decadent, divine a chocolate lover’s dream come true! Scoop some ice cream on top and you’ve got a fabulous dessert.
I know it’s November and your mind might only be thinking pies and pumpkin desserts right now, but today let’s take a break from all that holiday baking hoopla and talk chocolate, Molten Brownie Pudding to be exact.
It’s no secret chocolate is my life (ok, so is peanut butter). I don’t know about any of you, but a chocolate dessert at our Thanksgiving isn’t unusual.
So even in the midst of all my fall baking, there is always chocolate baking going on.
So if you’re like me and you always have a chocolate craving then this Molten Brownie Pudding will definitely curb that craving.
Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. . . .um hello!!! I could lie and tell you it was awful, disgusting and totally not worth the calories, but that would not be very nice of me.
1 1/2 cups water
7 tablespoons butter, (melted & divided)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
Pour the 1 1/2 cups water into your Instant Pot. Place the steam rack inside.
Butter a 6- to 7-inch souffle or baking dish with 1 tablespoons of the butter.
In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat together the sugar and eggs until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa and salt. Add this to the sugar and egg mixture and mix until just combined. Mix in the vanilla and the remaining 6 tablespoons of melted butter and mix until just combined.
Pour mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Place on the steam rack and secure the lid.
Select Manual and cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. Once cooking time is complete, do a quick release. Carefully remove the lid so that any condensation doesn’t drip on the pudding. Carefully remove the baking dish using mitts or tongs.
Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Notes
If your dish doesn’t have handles, you can make a sling with a piece of foil, folded in half twice, that’s long enough to go under the dish and stick up 6 inches on each side, creating handles. My dish doesn’t have handles and I didn’t want to worry about making a foil sling, so I just carefully lifted it out with hot pads.
Big, soft cookies filled with Andes Mint Candies, Mint Chips and Chocolate Chips. Mint and chocolate in every delicious bite! No chill time; you can enjoy these Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies in 30 minutes!
Is there just enough green in these Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies to make them appropriate for St Patrick’s Day? I say yes!
In the past I always made Guinness Brownies on St Patty’s Day, but seeing as how my kids probably shouldn’t be consuming beer brownies with whiskey frosting, I decided to make a kid-friendly St Patrick’s Day dessert (don’t worry, adults will love these too!).
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
What we have is soft and chewy peppermint cookies loaded with mint chips, chocolate chips and Andes chocolate candies.
To increase the peppermint flavor just a touch, I also add a little bit of peppermint extract to the cookies. This gives an underlying peppermint flavor in every single bite.
You can pick and choose which mix-ins you want to use. You can add just Andes Mints, or just mint chips. I will say that I think the Andes really take these over the top. They bring the status from good to great. I mean, do you see those melty little pools of chocolaty-peppermint deliciousness? Gah!
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies now have a permanent spot in my baking rotation.
If you’re a fan of chocolate and peppermint you will go crazy for these. I would normally never choose a mint-chip cookie, but I seriously loved these Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies! I might have lost some self control when these beauties were fresh from the oven. One bite led to another, and let’s just say I lost count how many were consumed. Can you blame me?
Have yourself a safe and Happy St Patrick’s Day! Oh, and check out my Guinness and Irish Cheddar Mac and Cheese (we need some “real” food before eating all the Mint Chip Cookies, right?).
