Mardi Gras Cajun Cookery

Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and is a traditional time of feasting. The traditional Cajun cuisine of Louisiana is spicy and tastes fabulous. To celebrate this Mardi Gras season, try cooking up some tasty Cajun recipes at home. Serve them to your family or at a dinner party to set the mood for a Mardi Gras celebration. This recipe is for a Cajun version of a traditional fettuccine Alfredo. Using classic jambalaya ingredients of chicken, shrimp and sausage, this dish is mildly spicy and full of flavor. For those who prefer spicier foods, you can up the amounts of cayenne pepper or add hot sauce or even diced chilies.

Cajun Mardi Gras Fettuccine

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon of paprika

½ teaspoon of garlic powder

½ teaspoon of onion powder

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves cut into bite size pieces (about ¾ of a pound)

½ pound of medium white shrimp, peeled and deveined

½ pound smoked sausage (kielbasa) cut into slices and then the slices cut into quarters. You want bite size pieces.

8 ounces of uncooked fettuccine noodles

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium tomato, diced

1 medium bell pepper (I prefer to use a red pepper as the taste is sweeter and the colors brighter), sliced into thin strips

1 large sweet onion sliced into strips

4 cloves of garlic chopped finely (or 2 teaspoons of preminced garlic)

¾ cup chicken stock

1 jar of alfredo sauce

½ cup of plain spaghetti sauce

Directions

Mix together the first 5 ingredients (the spices) until well blended. Use 1/3 of the spice mix to coat the chicken, 1/3 to coat the shrimp and reserve 1/3.

Cook your pasta according to the directions on the package. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and coat the pan. Sear the chicken pieces on all sides for about 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook on each side for about 30 seconds. Remove the chicken and shrimp from the pan and set aside in a bowl.

Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan and then add the sausage, tomato, bell pepper and onion. Sprinkle the rest of the spice mixture over the vegetables and cook over high heat until the vegetables are browned and beginning to soften. Add the chicken stock and cook until mostly evaporated, stirring often.

Add the garlic, the chicken and the shrimp. Stir well and then add the Alfredo sauce and the spaghetti sauce, Stir again to coat all of the vegetables and meats. Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is cooked completely. Stir again to coat before serving.

Spoon the meat and vegetables over the top of fettuccine noodles and serve. You can also serve this over rice. I have even added other vegetables to it as well. Try adding yellow squash or zucchini. This makes between 6 - 8 servings.