Although we have never been to New Orleans, we love the spice, soul and comfort of Cajun cooking. Most jambalaya recipes consist of the traditional blend of chicken, sausage and seafood (shrimp or crawfish). In addition to the meat and seafood, it is often made with the trinity of vegetables that include onion, celery and bell pepper. This recipe has a little twist on the traditional method of jambalaya. I use scallops vs. shrimp and celery seed vs. celery in the recipe. Why do you ask? Simply because I love scallops and I dislike the fibrous chunks of celery. If you or a loved one don't like celery than this is the jambalaya recipe for you. The celery seed still brings out the celery flavor in a subtle way that anyone can enjoy. Jambalaya can be made in various ways to suit your needs and flavor preferences. The beauty of a dish like this is that you can simply swap out anything you dislike and replace it with something you prefer instead. For example, do you like okra? Yes? Okay, then add in 1 cup at the end with the scallops. Or if you prefer shrimp vs. scallops simply swap out the scallops for 1 lb of shrimp at the end and voila! A tasty dish awaits no matter what!

Nutrition Tip*
Take at least 20 minutes to eat your meal. Savor the flavor, actually chew your food, and listen to your body's natural hunger and fullness cues. Practice eating slower with other family members, coworkers or friends. You tend to mimic those around you and if someone else eats fast than you're more than likely going to eat fast to keep up with them. People who eat fast are more likely to overeat and eat a larger portion at meals. Eating slower can help keep portions small so that you can continue to enjoy your favorite foods in moderation.