Quick and Easy Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Everyone around here has a jambalaya recipe.  Some recipes call for  all day cooking.  As a busy young mother, I needed something quick and easy, but tasty.  Here is what I came up with.  We enjoy it!

1 pound Smoky Hollow beef link sausage cut into 1/2-inch round slices
1 pound chicken tenderloins or boneless skinless chicken thighs (they give the most flavor), cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 tablespoon olive oil
3 celery ribs chopped
1 large onion chopped
1 small bell pepper chopped
2 Tablespoons parsley flakes
2 bud/toes garlic, minced
3-4 cups chicken broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 large bay leaf
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning (Tony’s)

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat.  Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery.  Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add chicken and continue to sauté chicken is nearly done (5-8 minutes).  Add sausage and sauté 3 more minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, thyme, seasoned salt, pepper,garlic powder and Cajun seasonings.  Bring to a boil, drop in bay leaf and rice. Stir three or four quick times to mix blend everything.  Reduce heat to simmer.  Put lid on pot and let cook 20-25 minutes.

You can also add 1 cup of diced ham or peeled raw shrimp/crayfish to the meats.