HEALTHY CHICKEN SAUSAGE JAMBALAYA WITH AL FRESCO ALL NATURAL

Back in June of this year, I had the opportunity to go to the 5 for Ellie Event on behalf of al fresco all natural. For those who are curious, the 5 for Ellie Event is put on by the Ellie Fund and is an event that raises money to provide transportation, meals, housekeeping, childcare, (and so much more) to patients battling breast cancer, free of charge. As someone whose own mother, aunt, and great-grandmother have all battled breast cancer, as you can probably imagine, it was a deeply moving event. We were able to hear stories of women currently going through cancer, those who are cancer survivors, and how the Ellie Fund and al fresco all natural made their lives just a bit easier. There’s a fashion show, an auction to raise money for the Ellie Fund, and Tom Brady always shows up (I’ll admit I was a little star struck being five feet from him).

Every year, al fresco all natural donates over $35,000 to support breast cancer research and patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is October every year (AKA right now!!), I’ve teamed up with al fresco all natural to put together a hearty but healthy and comforting meal for my mom, who battled breast cancer about nine years ago (you can read more about that here). Many who battle breast cancer find themselves reaching to healthy foods, including lots of fresh vegetables, and herbs when going through chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Many believe that the freshest food helps them to recover much quicker, and often, doctors advise against red meat and food that contains a lot of sugar, as it increases inflammation in the body. (Note: I am not a doctor, I am only sharing what I’ve heard so many others share with me). Because of this, products like al fresco all natural’s chicken sausages are a great substitute for red meat, sausage, or traditional chicken.

Typically, this recipe (which has been passed down from my great-grandmother) includes ham. I substituted the ham for al fresco all natural’s Sweet Italian Chicken Sausages to make the recipe much healthier. I didn’t even miss the ham when making this. So, so good. It’s a great comfort food for when the cold weather starts rolling in. I think people get intimidated by the name “jambalaya,” but it’s honestly super easy and quick, especially if you prep the vegetables ahead of time. al fresco’s products contain at least 50% less fat than traditional beef and pork products, are 100% natural, are delicious, and so easy to cook with. There are zero artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no nitrates or nitrites, and are MSG/gluten-free. Since al fresco’s chicken sausages are fully cooked, you’re essentially just warming them up and preparing them to your liking. My favorite way to cook them is to slice them into rounds and sauté them in a pan. The outside gets a nice golden brown. If you have kids that can’t get enough of hot dogs, this is a really great, MUCH healthier option, as al fresco’s chicken sausages contain no nitrites/nitrates, nor do they contain any preservatives or artificial ingredients.

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HEALTHY + HEARTY CHICKEN SAUSAGE + SHRIMP JAMBALAYA

2 Tbsp. Butter
1 Tbsp. Flour
1 Package al fresco all natural Sweet Italian Sausage Chicken Sausages, sliced in rounds (or cut smaller if desired)
1 Green Pepper, diced
1 Large White Onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 Clove Garlic, minced
29 oz. Canned Tomatoes (Use diced or petite-cut depending on how large you want tomato chunks)
1 1/2 Cups Water
2 Cups Cooked Shrimp
3/4 Cup Uncooked Rice (Note: if using brown rice, you may need a bit more liquid)
2 Tablespoon Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Warm a deep skillet (or large saucepan) to medium heat. Melt butter, stir in flour, add diced green pepper, and sliced chicken sausage. Cook, stirring for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add shrimp, tomatoes, water, onion, salt, garlic, and pepper. Bring to a boil and add rice. Reduce heat to low-medium/a simmer for 30 minutes until rice is tender and has absorbed most of the moisture. Cover as it simmers. Stir every so often so that rice doesn’t become stuck to bottom of pan (if you find it’s sticking a lot, you can add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil).

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Anyone have any favorite fall recipes to make with chicken sausage? I’m always open to hearing about new recipes. Comment below or shoot me an email at contact@brunchonsunday.com

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Thank you to al fresco all nautral for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.