Jambalaya with sausage (rice cooker recipe)

• 1/2 cup peanut oil
• 1 large onion , chopped
• 1 1/2 lbs smoked sausage , sliced (I use Kielbasa)
• 1 bell pepper , chopped
• 2 cloves garlic , chopped
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 package frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 cup mild salsa (optional) or 1 cup canned tomato (optional)
• 3 cups rice , uncooked
• water

Directions:

1. In large frying pan, heat the oil and saute onions, sausage and bell pepper.
2. Cook until sausage is cooked and onion and pepper is tender.
3. Add chopped tomato and garlic to pan.
4. Saute until cooked.
5. In rice cooker, put in 3 cups of rice (use measure cup that comes with rice cooker), enough water to reach the Paella or Sweet rice level marked on rice cooker (I use the Sweet level) sausage and vegetables, pkg of frozen vegetables, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, black pepper, and salsa if desired.
6. Press the select and cooking button according to rice cooker instructions.
7. To cook in skillet instead of rice cooker: after vegetables are cooked add tomatoes, spices and 1 1/2 quart water or stock.
8. Bring to boil.
9. Add rice, bring to boil and reduce to simmer.
10. Cover and simmer for about 25-35 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is somewhat dry and not sticky.

A few more stops along the way...

  

While driving we all were tired of just sitting in the car.. we tend to do this often.  We also tend to make a LOT of stops.. not for the typical things like potty and gas.. we stop at side of the road fruit stands (or what ever they are selling for that area) and anything else interesting that we might happen upon.

During this pit stop, we had used the new fancy Siri and she informed us of a 5 star rated boudian place in Breaux Bridge, LA..This of course meant we needed to stop and try it for ourselves!  Long story short, we got lost, I ran into a produce market that smelled soooo good because of all of the crawfish they were boiling that day and he told me of a little red building just down the road (not the same place, but hey..he sounded like he knew good boudian) He said this lil red building had the absolute BEST seafood boudian and seafood egg rolls ever..
We also found the place that had the 5 star rated and it was good too... yes, we love a good boudian!
This place was quaint.. and the people were super sweet.  
OMG.. this stuff was slap your momma and grandma good!  Make sure you got something to drink though.

 While enjoying all this great food.. the lady that worked here told us about this great place to go stretch our legs.. This place is a nesting area for all these large birds.. way back in the swamp and so dang pretty.

On our way home from Florida

Today is the day that we have to leave Florida and the family and head back to Texas.  Rod has to get the background paperwork turned in for the new job.  He is wanting to drive back straight thru, but I however don't know how that is going to work.  It has been a hard week... and I hate having to leave Maggie without having everything wrapped up.. but we did manage to get the funeral paid for!  We are blessed to have such amazing friends and family that are there in times of need. 

I was really worried about the guys being pallbearers, but they did an amazing job and stayed strong throughout the service.  I don't know how in the world they managed that one but they did great.  They were hell bent on taking care of their brother, cousin and friend. 

Our beautiful sweet niece Heather.

All of the kids were handsome and beautiful in their dress clothes.

The kids decided that they were bringing CJ and D-Allas home with us when we left.. they even packed up the clothes and was loading them into the car.. lol






I wasn't aware that my brother in law had gotten me again with one of the big yellow motorcycle signs he tends to hang on my car when we get to see them.. Last time at my Father in Laws funeral gathering, he had attached a bright yellow bumper sticker to my rear window up top.. it made it very easy to find our car.. however it is a neon sign to cops when I speed...
Cameron informed me that Uncle Jeff had removed ALL of the bumper sticker.. I was saying, " aww that was so sweet of him... WAIT... what did he do to my car then.."   About that time, my husband was leaving in the suburban and when he turned to leave I saw an enormous yellow sign in the same place as the last.. only this one is larger and it has holes so that I can see through it while driving. 
However... on one of our middle of the night stops on our way home.. Rod shows me another sign that my car has been tagged with... It brought a huge smile to my face , not because I liked it.. but because my brother in law was able to play a prank on me.. that told me that he was going to be okay over time.   I do believe that I will remove the word "vehicle" and add "THE" to the sign.  :o)