Easy Cajun Cooking - Red Beans and Rice

[Mister D]

Yes I know I'm evil, but look at it this way, atleast I'd be a very cheap date for somebody. You wouldn't ever have to worry about me ordering an expensive steak or lobster tail for you to pay for

Tha is a good point...

Edit: Unless you are in the habit of lecturing a man about his steak!

[nic34]

I've been dealing with this !@$%!@# disease now for about 20 months and it sucks. I have to watch my carbs VERY closely. That means no sugar, no desserts or baked goods, no sweet beverages (God I miss sweet tea; Splenda just ain't the same). I can't eat regular pasta like in a restaurant (however I buy an excellent low-glycemic pasta called Dreamfields that tastes just like regular pasta, so I can at least enjoy spaghetti at home). I sure do miss mac n' cheese though. No regular rice either, gotta be brown rice and only a little of that. I can have only whole wheat bread and I'm careful to read labels and get the lowest-carb bread I can. No french fries or onion rings; in fact most fast food is a thing of the past. What really hurts is NO PIZZA! I can't have any breading of any sort on either meat or veggies. I'm supposed to go high on the protein and fiber. Beans are high in carbs....but just as high in fiber, which makes the carbs digest more slowly, so I can eat as many beans as I want. I can have lots of breakfast (bacon, sausage, eggs all good; waffles, cereal, toast bad). So I'm kinda left with grilled or roasted meats, poultry and fish; raw or steamed veggies (have to be careful with some high-carb veggies though, like carrots and corn). This is all one reason I've been experimenting with lots of different spices over the last year.

Read you loud and clear. Sounds real familar.
Here's a great snack we diabetics enjoy here in AZ...

Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos (or Anaheims)

1 pound ground pork sausage

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1 pound large fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

1 (8 ounce) bottle Ranch dressing (optional)

1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2.Place sausage in a skillet over medium heat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain grease.

3.In a bowl, mix the sausage, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon sausage mixture into each jalapeno half. Arrange stuffed halves in baking dishes.

4.Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned. Serve with Ranch dressing.

If Jalapenos are too spicy for you try the mild Anaheim peppers. They're bigger but will still work. Sometimes we just put these on the grill with a steak....

I also use Dreamfields. Try the macaroni with your own cheese sauce and top with french fried onions or red peppers for the best mac and cheese.

[Mister D]

Stuffing chilis sounds great but I would think poblanos would work best. Jalapenos seems like a lot of work. More like a finger food.

[Chloe]

Tha is a good point...

Edit: Unless you are in the habit of lecturing a man about his steak!

No I'm not in the habit of lecturing people about their food choice if I'm out to dinner, whether it's a date or just out with friends, that's just rude.

[oceanloverOH]

Read you loud and clear. Sounds real familar.
Here's a great snack we diabetics enjoy here in AZ...

Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos (or Anaheims)

1 pound ground pork sausage

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1 pound large fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

1 (8 ounce) bottle Ranch dressing (optional)

1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2.Place sausage in a skillet over medium heat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain grease.

3.In a bowl, mix the sausage, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon sausage mixture into each jalapeno half. Arrange stuffed halves in baking dishes.

4.Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned. Serve with Ranch dressing.

If Jalapenos are too spicy for you try the mild Anaheim peppers. They're bigger but will still work. Sometimes we just put these on the grill with a steak....

I also use Dreamfields. Try the macaroni with your own cheese sauce and top with french fried onions or red peppers for the best mac and cheese.

These sound awesome! I'm not big on capsaicin "hot" as in jalapenos or hot peppers, though....never tried Anaheims. I have been looking for a stuffed bell pepper recipe that doesn't use rice (even brown rice spikes me every time); I wonder if this would work using bell peppers (hubby favors orange or yellow)? Sounds like a great side dish to liven up a steak, may have to try. Thanks, Nic!

[nic34]

You can use Bells if you like, but Anaheims are pretty mild with more of a chili flavor.

Ditto here on the rice, be great if dreamfields would come up with something for that...